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Books by Nathaniel C. Fowler, Jr. 

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The Handbook of Journalism 
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SULLY AND KLEINTEICH 

New York 

■ 1 — III! I M l m M l H I m ■ ■ !' ■Ill 11 ■! 



THE HANDBOOK OF 
JOURNALISM 

All about newspaper work, — Facts and in- 
formation of vital moment to the journal- 
ist and to all who would enter this calling 



BY 
NATHANIEL C. FOWLER, Jr. 

Author of "Starting in Life," "The Art of Story 

Writing," "How to Save Money," "How 

to Obtain Citizenship," etc. 




NEW YORK 

SULLY AND KLEINTEICH 

1913 






Copyright, 1913, by 
SULLY AND KLEINTEICH 



All rights reserved 



©CI.A;t50509 



PREFACE 

The little I know, and the much I know of what 
others know, are presented to those who are, or 
would be, members of the journalist crew, without 
which the Boat of Trade and the Ship of State 
would remain at anchor forever. 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER I PAGE 

By Way of Introduction 1 

CHAPTER II 
Newspapers and Periodicals 4 

CHAPTER III 
The Makers of Newspapers 11 

CHAPTER IV 
What Makes the Newspaper Writer . . .18 

CHAPTER V 
The Editor-in-Chief 23 

CHAPTER VI 
The Managing Editor . 27 

CHAPTER VII 
The Editorial Writer 29 

CHAPTER VIII 

The News and Telegraph Editor .... 32 

CHAPTER IX 
The Desk Editor 34 

CHAPTER X 
The Literary Editor 26 

CHAPTER XI 
The Dramatic Editor ...*... 38 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER XII PAGE 

The Musical Editor 42 

CHAPTER XIII 
The Book Reviewer ........ 44 

CHAPTER XIV 
The Financial Editor 49 

CHAPTER XV 
The Political Editor 52 

CHAPTER XVI 
The Reference Editor 54 

CHAPTER XVII 
The Night Editor 57 

CHAPTER XVIII 
The Sporting Editor 59 

CHAPTER XIX 
The Head or Caption Writer 62 

CHAPTER XX 
The City Editor 64 

CHAPTER XXI 
The Reporter 69 

CHAPTER XXII 
A "Nose-for-News." 84 

CHAPTER XXIII 
The Space-Writer 97 

CHAPTER XXIV 
The Writers of Special Articles .... 101 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER XXV page 

The Art Department 105 

CHAPTER XXVI 
Night Work 108 

CHAPTER XXVII 
News-Distributing Companies or Associations 110 

CHAPTER XXVIII 
Plate Matter 114 

CHAPTER XXIX 
The Syndicate 119 

CHAPTER XXX 

**Patent Insides" or Cooperative! Newspapers 124 

CHAPTER XXXI 
Schools of Journalism 128 

CHAPTER XXXII 
The Small Daily Newspaper . . . . . 132 

CHAPTER XXXIII 
Country Newspaper Opportunities . . .139 

CHAPTER XXXIV 
Manuscript or Copy 151 

CHAPTER XXXV 
Typewritten Copy 156 

CHAPTER XXXVI 
About Type 158 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER XXXVII page 

Typesetting Machines, — -The Linotype and 

Monotype 172 

CHAPTER XXXVIII 
The Printing Press 176 

CHAPTER XXXIX 
The Publishing or Business Department of 

A Newspaper 179 

CHAPTER XL 
No Change in Sight 188 

CHAPTER XLI 
The Taking of Advice 194 

CHAPTER XLII 

Technical or Newspaper Terms . . . .196 

CHAPTER XLIII 
Proof-reading 201 



THE HANDBOOK OF 
JOURNALISM 

CHAPTER I 
By Way of Intkoduction 

THIS book is not, and does not claim to be, a 
cyclopedia of journalism. Nor does it 
pretend to be a guide to newspaper work. 

There are several reasons why the author re- 
fuses to attempt to tell the reader how he may 
become a journalist or newspaper writer, or how 
he may do better work if he is already a member 
of the craft. 

Nowhere in this book will be found definite rules 
or regulations, which would be of no use to the 
intelligent reader, and which would not be under- 
stood by the ignorant one. 

Journalism cannot be taught by book or lesson. 

1 



2 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

It is not like the concrete arts of book-keeping, 
stenography, typewriting, and a few others, a 
knowledge of which may be imparted by book or 
pen. 

Instead of attempting to teach, the author has 
given facts and information, which he hopes will 
be of benefit, not only to journalists in general, 
but of special moment to those who would enter 
what he considers Progression's Greatest Voca- 
tion. 

The author has presented both the professional 
and commercial aspects of the newspaper business, 
and has dwelt at length upon the latter, because 
it is obvious that the financial or remunerative side 
is of vital consequence, and will be, so long as com- 
paratively few can afford to devote their time 
to any vocation which does not offer them a liveli- 
hood. 

The author has not allowed his own personal 
experience as a journalist to bias the advice and 
suggestions which he has attempted to present. 
He has endeavored to present honestly, conscien- 
tiously, vividly, and plainly both sides of the 
journalistic shield, — the strong and the weak side 



BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION 3 

of it, — as well as typographically to paint tech- 
nical and professional pictures. 

He offers this book as a series of moving pic- 
tures of newspaper life, taken by the unprejudiced 
camera; and he has attempted to print from un- 
colored and unchanged negatives, as well as to 
present optimistic aflSrmatives, 



CHAPTER II 

Newspapers and Periodicals 

IN the United States and Canada there are pub- 
lished regularly, a total of exceeding twenty- 
four thousand newspapers, magazines, and other 
periodicals. Of these about two thousand six hun- 
dred are published daily, approximately seventy- 
five triweekly, not far from six hundred and fifty 
semiweekly, over seventeen thousand weekly, about 
sixty every two weeks, over two hundred and 
eighty semimonthly, somewhat more than three 
thousand monthly, about seventy-five bimonthly, 
and about two hundred and fifty quarterly. 

These newspapers and periodicals are pub- 
lished in about eleven thousand, six hundred and 
fifty towns and cities. 

More than half of the great daily newspapers 
publish Sunday editions, and there are a few Sun- 
day newspapers disconnected from daily news- 
paper offices. 



NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS 5 

Comparatively few daily newspapers issue both 
morning and evening editions. The large morn- 
ing newspapers publish two editions: one for out 
of town, the other for city circulation. The 
small evening newspapers issue but one edition; 
those of moderate size, two editions ; and the 
great city evening newspapers publish five or six 
editions. 

Many of the large city dailies issue weekly edi- 
tions other than those published on Sunday, made 
up largely from what has appeared in the dailies, 
with preference given to miscellany and other so- 
caUed literary matter. 

The Sunday newspapers contain the current 
news, but in addition large quantities of miscel- 
lany, special articles, and stories, including both 
short and serial stories. Several pages are de- 
voted to the household, to fashions, and to special 
articles, most of which are profusely illustrated. 

A large proportion of the matter, other than 
news, is supplied by syndicate companies, of 
which I have spoken in another chapter. 

Newspapers published less often than every 
week-day seldom issue more than one edition. 



6 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

All daily, Sunday, and weekly newspapers 
carry considerable miscellany, or matter other 
than news, and many of them run short or serial 
stories and matter of special interest to women 
and the household. 

Practically all of the weekly newspapers pub- 
lish one or more stories in each issue, and devote 
two or more columns to short articles. But 
most of this matter was either printed outside of 
the newspaper office, or is received in the form 
of plates, an explanation of which has been given 
in other chapters. 

The bulk of all telegraphic and general news, 
and of news other than that of local character, 
is furnished the newspaper from associations es- 
tablished for the collecting and distribution of 
news, although great newspapers frequently run 
several columns of news written for them ex- 
clusively, and coming over special wires, or as 
exclusive telegrams. 

Practically all of the local news matter in a 
great daily newspaper is written by reporters 
connected with that paper, most of whom receive 
salaries, the others being known as space-writers. 



NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS 7 

I have presented the duties of reporters and 
space-writers in other chapters. 

Magazines, and other publications carrying 
stories, seldom contain any news, except in the 
form of editorial comment, and none of these 
periodicals employ reporters. Their editorial 
staffs are made up of literary men and women, 
who do very little writing for the periodicals they 
are connected with, but who are responsible for 
the contents, almost everything coming from out- 
side writers, and paid for by the word, column, or 
page. 

With few exceptions, practically all of the so- 
called literary magazines, and those containing 
stories, are published monthly, most of the quar- 
terly periodicals being reviews or of an educa- 
tional character. 

The periodical having the largest circulation 
in America, if not in the world, is published 
weekly, and is devoted largely to illustrated 
stories and to special articles. 

Magazines, and periodicals other than news- 
papers, carry stories and miscellaneous articles 
and furnish the principal field for writers of lit- 



8 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

erature and of acceptable material other than 
news. In later chapters, I have attempted to 
cover this class of work. 

It will be seen, then, that there is very limited 
opportunity for literary writers to obtain much 
of an income from any individual newspaper, and 
that they must resort to the syndicate, to the 
magazines, and to other periodicals, which do not 
carry news, all of which I have spoken of in other 
chapters. 

The great newspaper is handled by specialists, 
and comparatively few of its editors are familiar 
with more than the work of their department. 
They are, therefore, unable to shift readily from 
one line to another. They are merely specialists, 
ungrounded in the great science and art of 
journalisni. Because they began as specialists, 
they remain special writers, or handle the work 
of only one department. 

An intimate knowledge of every phase of news- 
paper work is necessary, if one would become a 
managing editor, or an editor-in-chief, or be able 
to direct the work of a great newspaper ; and this 
familiarity with journalism, as a whole, is ob- 



NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS 9 

tainable only by learning and experiencing 
journalism as a whole, by beginning at the bot- 
tom as a reporter, and by mastering each round 
of the ladder as one moves upwards. Conditions, 
— both in business and in the professions, — favor 
the growth of the specialist, and thousands of 
men never meet the full of success because they 
began too near to the top. 

In the olden days, practically every editor 
began his career as a printer's apprentice, and 
became familiar, by experience, with every de- 
partment from the bottom to the top. These 
men, if they had sufficient ability, were able to 
handle every phase of newspaper work, and to 
direct others. 

There is an unwritten law, which seems to be 
infallible, that no one can direct another to do 
what he cannot do himself. 

Most of our older merchant princes began in 
the country store, and did every class of work, 
from sweeping out the store itself, to selling 
goods and keeping books. They were grounded 
in the fundamentals of business, and were masters 
of every detail of work. With this working. 



10 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

practical knowledge, thej were enabled to com- 
mand the work of others. 

I would advise every would-be journalist to 
begin at the bottom, and to become familiar with 
the most menial work connected with the news- 
paper. I would even go so far as to advise him 
to learn to set type, and to run a printing press. 

I believe that education to-day is altogether 
too highly specialized. Instead of grounding 
our young men in the fundamentals of business 
or of a profession, we begin to make them special- 
ists at the start, and they enter life handicapped 
with the lack of working knowledge of the things 
which they are supposed to do and direct. 

Experience is the world's most proficient 
schoolmaster. Without it, one may not hope to 
walk more than slowly through life. With it he 
may climb the mountains of success and dam up 
the rivers of disaster. 



CHAPTER III 

The Makers of Newspapees 

THE personnel of the editorial and repor- 
torial departments of the great metropoli- 
tan newspaper may be described generally and 
broadly as follows: 

The official known as the editor-in-chief is in 
command of every department outside of the 
business management and the mechanical produc- 
tion of the paper. He is responsible for every- 
thing which appears, and, directly or indirectly, 
engages the editors or reporters. He is, theoret- 
ically, at least, the supreme authority, the court 
of appeal, and the court of final resort, subject 
only to the owners of the newspaper, who make 
the policy. Occasionally he is the principal 
owner, or one of the owners, or he directly repre- 
sents the owners, in which case he is, in fact, gen- 
eral in command of the journalistic army under 

him. 

11 



12 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

The editor-in-chief usually writes the ma- 
jority of the leading editorials, and either he, or 
his principal assistant, designates the character 
or subjects of the editorials, which must not be 
at variance with the newspaper's policy. 

He personally engages the assistants, the spe- 
cial editors, and the heads of every department, 
which have to do with what appears in the news- 
paper, outside of the advertisements, although he 
may delegate much of this to subordinates. 

Directly under his direction are the editorial 
writers, of which there are two, three, or more; 
and besides them there are a number of outside 
editorial writers, most of them being specialists, 
who write upon the subjects they are familiar 
with, and are paid either moderate salaries or by 
the piece. 

The editorial writers, who are on the staff, give 
their entire time to the paper, and furnish most 
of the editorials. 

Next to the editor-in-chief in importance is the 
managing editor, who is tlie executive officer, and 
is under no one except the editor-in-chief. In 
some newspapers the managing editor is at the 



THE MAKERS OF NEWSPAPERS 13 

head and occupies the dual position of editor-in- 
chief and managing editor. He may or may not 
be an editorial writer, but gives most of his time 
to the management of the editorial and reportorial 
departments of the newspaper. 

Every large newspaper maintains several de- 
partments under the management of the follow- 
ing editors : 

(I do not give them in the order of importance, 
because their positions vary, as some of the pa- 
pers make a specialty of certain features, and the 
editors at the head of these special departments 
outrank those who may occupy higher positions 
on other papers.) 

The dramatic editor, who may or may not have 
full charge of musical matters. He is responsi- 
ble for all dramatic criticism and news which ap- 
pear in his paper, writing the leaders himself, and 
delegating other work to his assistants, some of 
whom may be editors of other departments or 
head- reporters. 

The musical editor prepares musical criticisms, 
and his work is similar to that of the dramatic 
editor. 



U THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

The political editor, who writes the political 
editorials. 

The financial editor attends to the commercial 
news and stock reports. 

The sporting editor, nowadays, is one of the 
most important personages, and is responsible for 
the sporting page and all sporting news. He 
does the heavy work himself and delegates report- 
ing to special reporters or to the regular re- 
porters. 

The literary editor, who may do the greater 
part of his work outside of the office, superintends 
the writing of the book reviews, and is responsible 
for everything of a literary nature which appears 
in the newspaper. 

The great newspaper has several telegraph or 
news editors, who handle the news which comes by 
wire. They need not be more than ordinary 
writers, but many of them are. 

There is maintained what is known as a read- 
ing desk, which is occupied by from three to half 
a dozen men, whose duties are to read manuscripts 
of every kind, to revise and correct them, and to 
see that nothing at variance with the newspaper's 



THE MAKERS OF NEWSPAPERS 15 

policy or libelous appears. They need not be 
writers, but they must be experts at English, 
spelling, and punctuation, and, besides, rapid 
readers. 

Some newspapers employ what are known as 
head- or heading-writers, but usually these men 
have other duties. 

The local news is under the direction of the 
city editor, who probably graduated from the 
reportorial desk and is familiar with local con- 
ditions. He keeps an assignment book, and each 
day designates the work of the regular reporters. 
His position is one of great responsibility. He 
employs several assistants. All of the local news 
goes through his hands or those of his assistants. 
It is then passed to the reading desk. 

On the regular staiF of the great newspaper 
there are from a dozen to three or four times that 
number of reporters, most of them able to handle 
any kind of news, but some of them are special- 
ists and are proficient in the writing of articles 
of large consequence. 

The young, or " cub," reporter, is an appren- 
tice, and most reporters begin as " cubs." 



16 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

There are other special editors, but they need 
not be discussed here, because every great news- 
paper maintains special departments which can- 
not be described generally. 

I have spoken particularly of each department, 
including the publishing or business side of jour- 
nalism, under separate headings. 

Life on the great newspaper is strenuous and 
hard. If a morning edition is published, few of 
those connected with it are through with their 
work until midnight or even later, many of the 
so-called day force working into the evening. 
They are usually given one day off a week. 

The newspaper requires the attendance of all 
of its principal editors and writers until a short 
time before going to press, one editorial writer, 
at least, the city editor, one or more news and 
telegraph editors and desk men, and several re- 
porters being required to remain late, that emer- 
gencies may be met and late news taken care of. 

Either the managing editor, or one designated 
by him, remains until the last, and personally 
stands over the forms of type, ordering this in 



THE MAKERS OF NEWSPAPERS 17 

and this out, as conditions and his judgment may 
suggest. 

Let me say in closing this chapter, that many 
of our best literary writers served apprentice- 
sTiips upon newspapers, and owe much of their 
success to the strict discipline they received and 
to the constantly varying conditions. The news- 
paper is the greatest school for writers. In no 
other way can one get into as close touch with 
men and affairs. The successful journalist is 
brought into the very heart of action. He ob- 
tains at first hand an insight into the inner con- 
ditions of human life. I do not believe that this 
experience can be duplicated, or even obtained, 
in any other calling. I would advise the would-be 
journalist to begin as a reporter, that he may 
obtain that information and experience, most of 
which he cannot help using in after life, even 
though he may eventually discard journalism and 
take up literary work or business. 



f 



CHAPTER IVj 

What Makes the Newspaper Writer 

IT is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to pre- m 

sent psychologically, or any other way, the 
qualities essential for journalistic success. 

Practically every man with a knowledge of 
English can learn to write for the press, and may 
become an acceptable reporter, and eventually a 
fairly good editorial writer. But it is obvious 
that one with a natural talent will climb the lad- 
der of journalistic proficiency much more rapidly 
than will he who must force himself to write and 
to produce under pressure. 

For this reason, I would advise no one to take 
up newspaper work, unless he has in him an un- 
quenchable desire to become a journalist. Bear 
in mind, however, that this desire, even though it 
be at burning heat, is, in itself alone, an insuffi- 
cient reason for entrance into the newspaper field. 

18 



WHAT MAKES THE WRITER 19 

Many of us sincerely desire to do things which we 
cannot do, yet I would look upon desire as the 
first qualification, for without it more than medi- 
ocre success is impossible. 

The vast majority of proficient newspaper men 
naturally turned to this calling, and as naturally 
found themselves able to compose readily and to 
separate the wheat from the chaff. 

Even at the start they can and do produce 
fairly acceptable copy. They are observant, and 
without undue efi*ort they keep in touch with 
things. Everything which concerns the public 
interests them. Not only do they want to write, 
but they do not find it difficult to place their im- 
pressions or thoughts upon paper, or profitably 
to chronicle the news of the day. 

I think that the majority of successful journal- 
ists began to write at the age of even sixteen years. 
Some of them were editors of amateur papers, 
and others contributed to the local press. Type 
and the printing press attracted them. They 
were involuntarily scribblers, good letter writers, 
and naturally kept themselves familiar with cur- 
rent events. They were readers, especially of 



20 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

newspapers. They loved to visit the newspaper 
or printing office, and the clatter of the press was 
music to their ears, and the smell of printer's ink 
was pleasanter than the perfumes of Arabia. 
They never passed near to a printing or news- 
paper office without going in or wanting to go in. 
They cultivated the acquaintance of reporters and 
editors, and many of them voluntarily furnished 
news items. 

Therefore, I say emphatically, do not attempt 
to become a journalist if you must make strenuous 
effort to produce acceptable matter. If you can- 
not, before you are twenty years of age, put your 
thoughts fairly well in writing, the chances are 
ten to one that you are unfitted to enter the news- 
paper field. 

I am not depreciating the value of practice, for 
without experience no result is possible ; and it is 
not likely that your first efforts will be satisfac- 
tory to you or to anybody else, even though you 
are to become a brilliant journalist. Your early 
work will be crude, and probably will not be ac- 
ceptable to the large newspaper. But if you are 
going to succeed, — if the journalistic germ is in 



WHAT MAKES THE WRITER 21 

you, — practically everything you write will show, 
at least, the prospect of eventual proficiency. 

If, after many conscientious trials, you find that 
you cannot write, and if your unbiased friends 
are of the same opinion, give up all thought of 
journalism. Remember that nature uncontrolled 
is a pretty good barometer. If your natural in- 
stincts are not permanently grounded, the prob- 
abilities are that there is some other calling for 
which you are far better fitted. 

There are exceptions, and some of the great 
journalists did not seem to take naturally to 
newspaper work, but the rank and file of them 
loved the profession before they entered it. They 
would write, and nothing could stop them. 
They overcame every obstacle, put their whole 
heart into their work, and to this natural and 
voluntary incentive they added experience, and 
arrived at Success. 

If you would be a newspaper writer, and do 
not live in a large city, I advise you most em- 
phatically to begin on some small newspaper. 
Even if you are a city resident, it will be well for 
you to consider country journalism as an enter- 



22 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

ing wedge. At any rate, investigate the possi- 
bilities of country journalism before you connect 
yourself with a great newspaper, and quite likely 
you may decide to remain in the country and en- 
joy a local reputation and a name, which may not 
come to you if you enter the strenuous competi- 
tion of city journalism. 

Many a man has received local country recogni- 
tion, and would have been far better off, if he had 
remained a prominent factor in his local town, 
and had not become a mere part of the great news-* 
paper machine, which sometimes grinds out lives 
as rapidly as it turns out newspapers. 



CHAPTER V 

The Editor-in-Chief 

EVERYTHING appearing in the great city 
newspaper, except the advertisements, is 
under the direction and control of an official 
known as the editor-in-chief. He may be the 
principal owner, or be financially interested in his 
newspaper. If his position is purely a salaried 
one, he, of course, must follow the policy estab- 
lished by the proprietor. 

The editor-in-chief usually writes the leading 
editorials, the others being prepared by his as- 
sistants, who are known as editorial writers, and 
of whom I have spoken in another chapter. 

With hardly an exception, editors-in-chief arose 
from the ranks, and served apprenticeship in the 
reportorial department, mastering every detail 
of newspaper work from the bottom up. Many 
of them began at the case, and are familiar, from 



M THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

experience, with the mechanical side of newspaper 
making. 

Probably the majority of editors-in-chief, ex- 
cept those who began their careers many years 
ago, enjoyed a college education, and all of them 
have passed through liberal and extensive experi- 
ence. 

There are in this country, several great editors, 
who graduated from the School of the World, and 
whose academic education is limited to the com- 
mon school ; but this condition does not depreciate 
the value of a liberal education. 

To succeed, the editor-in-chief must be famil- 
iar with every department of newspaper work, 
and he must keep in the closest touch with local, 
state, national, and international affairs. He 
must possess unusual discretion and discrimina- 
tion, and be a good executive as well as an able 
writer. 

Outside of the business department, the editor- 
in-chief is virtually a commanding general, in 
direct and exclusive control of every department, 
and he should not be ignorant of commercial 
affairs. 



THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 25 

The editor-in-chief receives the largest salary 
paid by the newspaper, except those given to the 
publisher and business manager, and often he 
ranks with them, so far as remuneration is con- 
cerned. His salary is seldom less than five thou- 
sand dollars a year, and from that up to twice 
that amount, or to even fifteen or twenty thou- 
sand dollars, although comparatively few are 
paid more than seven or eight thousand dollars. 

As many editors-in-chief financially control 
their newspapers, or have interests in them, it Is 
frequently difficult for the underj ournalist to at- 
tain this position, unless he is able to accumulate 
a sum sufficient to procure a part ownership, or 
is of unusual brilliancy and possesses tremendous 
executive ability. 

Connection between the business or publishing 
department and the editorial and reportorial de- 
partments is through the editor-in-chief or man- 
aging editor, who acts as executive officer, and 
who communicates the policy of the paper to his 
subordinates. 

On the great metropolitan newspaper, the 
editor-in-chief, although in actual command, may 



26 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

have little to do with the employment of others 
than those who come in direct contact with him. 
With the consent and advice of the proprietor, 
he appoints the heads of departments, and holds 
them responsible for their work and that of their 
subordinates. Every day he presides at a con- 
ference attended by the editorial writers, and fre- 
quently by the heads of departments, including 
the publisher or his representative. 

Although most of the great newspapers em- 
ploy a managing editor, as well as an editor-in- 
chief, occasionally one person occupies both po- 
sitions. 

The office of editor-in-chief of the smaller daily 
newspaper, and of the country weekly, is usually 
vested in the proprietors, or in one of them. 



CHAPTER VI 

The Managing Editor 

THE newspaper, unless published in a small 
place, is under the direction of the managing 
editor, who may or may not be the editor-in-chief, 
and who is not necessarily a prolific and able 
writer. He is, in fact, the chief executive oflScer 
of every department of the newspaper, except 
those devoted to the business. As a rule, he em- 
ploys, or is responsible for, the heads of every 
department outside of the business and mechanical 
ones ; and the editorial department, as a whole, 
may be under his direction. He usually engages 
most of the editors, and theoretically, all of the 
reporters, although the city editor is likely to 
control the local department. 

To succeed, he must possess unusual executive 
ability, and be in the closest touch with affairs. 

He is under the direction of only the editor-in- 
chief, and receives his orders from him; but he 

§7 



28 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

usually takes the initiative and attends to most 
of his duties without consulting any one, pro- 
viding, of course, that he adheres to the policy 
of the newspaper. 

His position is one of great responsibility, for 
the circulation of the paper and its standing in 
the community are largely due to his efforts. 

The managing editor should be also familiar 
with the mechanical side of the newspaper, as 
well as with the editorial, news, and reportorial 
requirements. He must keep in close touch with 
everything which goes on, including news in gen- 
eral, and it is his duty to originate as well as to 
direct. 

His salary is about twenty-five per cent, less 
than that given to the editor-in-chief. 

The position of editor-in-chief and managing 
editor may be merged into one office. 

Some newspapers, however, do not label the 
editor in control with the title of editor-in-chief 
or managing editor, in which case the managing 
or controlling editor is known as the editor, the 
other officials being called assistant editors or 
heads of departments. 



CHAPTER VII 

The Editoriai. Writer 

NEWSPAPERS, other than those located in 
the smaller places, employ from one to sev- 
eral regular staff editorial writers, who give their 
entire time to their newspapers, and who write all 
of the editorial matter, except the leaders, which 
are usually written by the editors-in-chief. Often 
these assistants are responsible for the leading 
editorials, or for some of them. 

Every Jay a conference is held, presided over 
by the editor-in-chief or managing editor. Mat- 
ters of public mterest are discussed, and subjects 
assigned to the editorial writers, most of whom 
are especially proficient in some one line, although 
editorial writers, as a rule, are able to handle al- 
most any subject^ except that of the actual writ- 
ing out of news itself. 

Editorial writei-s are paid from two to even 



30 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

five thousand dollars a year, the average salary 
being between three and four thousand dollars. 
They are usually men of very broad education, 
and even broader experience, who are in close 
touch with all human affairs, and are able to 
place their knowledge and impressions acceptably 
upon paper. 

The large newspapers employ, besides the regu- 
lar staff of editorial writers, several special edi- 
tors, who, for the most part, do their work at 
home. They receive moderate salaries, — from 
five hundred to two thousand dollars, or are paid 
at the rate of five to twenty-five dollars per 
column. The editor-in-chief, or managing editor, 
assigns subjects for them. 

These outside editorial writers are usually spe- 
cialists, — experts in some particular science or 
art, — and their work is largely confined to their 
specialties. For example, the great newspaper 
would have on its outside staff of editorial writers 
a leading scientist, an eminent doctor, a promi- 
nent clergyman, a political writer of note, a his- 
torian, and others. These writers, although they 



THE EDITORIAL WRITER 31 

work usually under instructions, are allowed at 
times to choose their subjects, and to send in edi- 
torials at will, which will be used, if they are ac- 
ceptable to the commanding editor. 

Many literary writers take up special editorial 
work. 



CHAPTER VIII 

The News and Telegraph Editor 

THE great newspaper employs one or more 
officials known as news or telegraphic edi- 
tors, whose duties are to read, edit, and correct 
the general news, most of which is received over 
the wire, the copy usually going to the desk read- 
ers for final revision; but these desk readers do 
not do more than make the necessary corrections. 
Most of the general and telegraphic news, except 
that which comes by special wire, is received from 
a news-gathering association, and is written upon 
thin paper. 

News matter is without headings, and the edi- 
tor mus+. write in the headlines. 

It is sometimes necessary to revise, or to pad 
out, the news, as telegrams are often quite con- 
cise, and admit of legitimate enlargement. For 
example: the paper receives the notice of the 



NEWS AND TELEGRAPH EDITOR SB 

death of a prominent person. The editor adds 
to the telegram the life of the deceased and other 
information concerning him. The telegram itself 
may give only the date of his death. It is per- 
fectly legitimate to attach to this any amount 
of matter about the person, even to the extent 
of several columns. 

The paper receives telegraphic news about the 
dedication of a monument, or the opening of a 
railroad. The news editor has on file a large 
amount of information on the subject, and he 
adds this to the telegraphic report. 

News and telegraphic editors must keep in 
close touch with the affairs of the world, and be 
able to diagnose instantaneously the value of a 
telegram. 

They are paid from fifteen hundred to three 
thousand dollars a year. 

The smaller papers may not maintain a gen- 
eral news department, the work being handled by 
one of the editors in connection with his other 
duties. 



CHAPTER IX 

The Desk Editor 

THE great metropolitan newspaper, and some 
of those published in the smaller cities, em- 
ploy two or more editors known as desk editors. 

Everything which appears in the news or edi- 
torial columns of the paper passes over their desk. 
They read principally for grammatical and other 
errors, and may or may not write in the headings. 

The introduction of the linotype makes it neces- 
sary for all copy to be correctly written, spelled, 
punctuated, and paragraphed, that the machine 
operator may follow it completely. 

The linotype casts lines of type (not single 
type), and corrections cannot be made as readily 
as they are under the old hand-set method. It is, 
therefore, necessary that the copy approach cor- 
rectness. 

The desk editor has little discretionary power, 
34 



THE DESK EDITOR 35 

beyond making necessary corrections and seeing to 
it that nothing libelous appears. His duty is 
similar to that of the proof-reader, except that 
his position is far more responsible. 

Desk editors or readers are generally well edu- 
cated, and good English scholars. They do lit- 
tle or no writing, confining their work almost ex- 
clusively to correcting that of others. Because 
their work is somewhat mechanical, they are not 
paid large salaries, their average emolument be- 
ing not far from two thousand dollars a year, al- 
though some of them receive a larger sum. 

The smaller dailies do not employ desk edi- 
tors, the editor himself, or his assistants, being 
responsible for the correctness of copy. 



CHAPTER X 

The Literary Editor 

ON the staff of a great newspaper is, at least, 
one literary editor, who is responsible for 
the book reviewing, and who writes or clips the 
literary matter appearing in the paper. The 
handling of so-called miscellany may be given to 
him. 

Although several literary editors began as re- 
porters, probably the majority of them did not 
serve apprenticeship in the ranks, but were en- 
gaged because of their reputation and literary 
ability. They are usually liberally educated, 
most of them being college graduates, and several 
of them are writers of some reputation. They 
should be intimately familiar with books and gen- 
eral literature, and with the characteristics of 

literary writers, both past and present. Their 

36 



THE LITERARY EDITOR 37 

style need not be journalistic, and they are al- 
lowed considerable license. 

The book and magazine publishers send copies 
of their books and periodicals to the newspapers, 
addressed to the literary editor. He writes the 
principal reviews himself, but delegates most of 
the work to his assistants, who are usually out- 
siders. 

Literary editors, on the staffs of great news- 
papers, receive salaries from two thousand to even 
four thousand dollars a year. The outside re- 
viewers are not paid, as a rule, more than five or 
six hundred dollars a year, if on salary ; and from 
two dollars to twenty-five dollars for a single re- 
view. (See chapter on " The Book Reviewer.") 



CHAPTER XI 

The Deamatic Editor 

EVERY great newspaper, and many of the 
magazines, employ dramatic editors, who are 
not supposed to handle any other class of mat- 
ter. They have under them one or more regular 
assistants, and draft into the service editors of 
other departments and the better class of re- 
porters. 

It is obvious that in the large cities, where 
several new plays are presented every week, no 
one editor could hope to handle all of them. The 
dramatic editor selects those of the greatest im- 
portance, and personally criticises them, his sub- 
ordinates being responsible for the others. 

The dramatic editor, or his assistants, pre- 
pare the advance notices and write the general 
dramatic news. 

The dramatic editor may have been a reporter, 
38 



THE DRAMATIC EDITOR 39 

but reportorial experience, although it would be 
helpful, is not required. 

The dramatic editor should have a special 
training, and he should be naturally proficient in 
his art. Familiarity with the stage is necessary, 
and the editor must be acquainted personally with 
actors and actresses, and with their ways, with 
plays, and with playwrights in general, and 
with conditions on the stage itself. He must know 
the drama both from in front and behind the foot- 
lights, and understand stage craft technically. 
Besides, he should have a literary temperament, 
and an analytical mind, that he may be able to 
judge a play from a literary as well as from a 
merely stage view-point. 

Some dramatic editors graduated from the 
stage, and are playwrights. This experience is 
very advantageous. 

The dramatic editor, above all, must be a critic 
and not merely a writer. His sense of proportion 
must be highly developed. He must be able to 
write about a play, and of the actors in it, ir- 
respective of common public approval, for many 
a production is extremely popular, because of the 



40 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

stage settings and the spectacular effect and yet 
deserves the severest condemnation. 

On the other hand, there are several plays upon 
the boards, which are not particularly remunera- 
tive, and yet are genuine dramatic classics. 

The smaller newspapers do not employ, as a 
rule, dramatic editors ; but one of the department 
editors, or a head reporter, is responsible for the 
dramatic criticism and comment. They may re- 
ceive additional remuneration for this w^ork, but 
in many cases they do not. Frequently the edi- 
tor himself attends to the drama. Often an out- 
side literary man or woman is employed at a mod- 
erate salary. 

Leading dramatic editors enjoy salaries ran- 
ging from two to even four or five thousand 
dollars a year, but the average is not over two 
thousand dollars. The assistants are paid from 
fifteen hundred to two thousand dollars; but the 
editors and reporters, who do a part of this work, 
are paid nothing extra for handling the stage, if a 
dramatic department is maintained. 

The average editor and reporter cannot ac- 



THE DRAIVIATIC EDITOR 41 

ceptably write dramatic criticisms, as this work 
may be considered as in a class by itself; but 
some of them have this peculiar ability, and are 
drafted into service. 

I would advise the would-be dramatic editor to 
master the details of journalism. 



CHAPTER XII 

The Musical Editor 

UNLESS the dramatic editor covers the musi- 
cal news and criticism, the newspaper em- 
ploys a musical editor, who receives a salary of 
from a thousand to two or three thousand dollars 
a year. He may not give his whole time to any 
one newspaper. 

It is obvious that no one can write acceptable 
or correct musical criticism, who is not either a 
musician or one who understands the music from 
the critic's view-point. 

The musical editor covers personally, or by his 
assistants, all of the prominent musical events. 
He is familiar with the music of the world, both 
vocal and instrumental ; and has a large acquaint- 
ance with musicians, — their ways and their char- 
acteristics. 

Many musical critics are professors or teachers 
49 



THE MUSICAL EDITOR 43 

of music, and take up musical criticism as a side 
line. 

The smaller newspapers do not maintain musi- 
cal departments, but depend upon their editors or 
reporters, or they may engage a local musician 
at a nominal salary. 



CHAPTER XIII 
The Book Reviewee 

ALTHOUGH book reviewing is directly in 
charge of the literary editor, the majority 
of book reviews are written by what are known 
as outside writers, — professional men and women 
of education, and of real or alleged discrimina- 
tion. Some of them are retired journalists, but 
most of them are writers of books and of other 
literature, and many of them are specialists at 
book reviewing and handle only books in their 
line of experience and education. 

The literary editor sends to them the books to 
be reviewed, and^ pays them from two dollars to 
five dollars for each review, and more if the work 
is of considerable importance. 

The book reviewer is theoretically supposed 

to read every book submitted to him for a review ; 

but, as a rule, he merely glances through the 

44 



THE BOOK REVIEWER 45 

pages, unless the work be one of importance ; and 
he may obtain a very imperfect insight into its 
contents. For this reason, many reviews are al- 
together too complimentary or too severe, and do 
not do justice to the authors. 

It is exceedingly difficult to remedy this evil, 
because it is obvious that few newspapers can 
afford to pay the price necessary for intelligent 
reviewing; and the reviewer, if he depends upon 
his review work for the whole or part of his live- 
lihood, cannot give more than indifferent atten- 
tion to the majority of books and magazines sent 
to him. 

The number of books is legion, and proper or 
comprehensive reviews of them do not appear to 
be commercially profitable. Then, many books, 
— perhaps a large proportion of them, — are en- 
tirely unworthy of favorable comment, and do 
not deserve more than a passing notice. 

No one newspaper can properly or compre- 
hensively handle the output of literature or of 
alleged literature. 

The reviewer does his best under the circum- 
stances, and he should not be severely criticised if 



46 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

he does not perforin his work as well as he would 
if conditions would justify a sufficient remunera- 
tion. 

Unfortunately, the supply of good reviewers is 
limited, and the newspaper is forced by circum- 
stances to employ those who do not demand high 
prices for their work. 

Learning, and even an intimate familiarity 
with the subject, sometimes work the opposite 
from the intention, and many book reviewers, like 
other professional writers, are biased and preju- 
diced. They may, therefore, condemn a work 
which should be commended, and speak in the 
highest praise of one which happens to appeal to 
them, and yet is not altogether meritorious. 

Until a scale is discovered, which will actually 
Weigh literary values, it will be impossible for 
more than a talented few correctly to discrimi- 
nate, or properly to present other than generali- 
ties. Skimmers of books, rather than reviewers 
of books, will flourish until the public taste is suf- 
ficiently elevated to raise the wages of those who 
would do better, if doing their best would bring 
in enough money to permit the spreading of more 



THE BOOK REVIEWER 47 

than a thin layer of butter upon their daily bread. 

Some book reviewers are men and women of 
moderate incomes beyond their reviewing receipts, 
and are of exceptional ability. 

The reviewer, underpaid though he may be, and 
undertrained in many cases, is not below the level 
of the average book writer who conceitedly ex- 
pects the reviewer to cover his printed weeds with 
the flowers of scented flattery. 

No book reviewer, however able or conscien- 
tious, can hope to receive more than moderate re- 
muneration for his work, simply because commer- 
cialism does not demand perfection in this line; 
nor can any one properly review all of the books 
published, however much he may desire to do so. 

Some book reviewers, — and many of the best 
of them, — cannot produce good literature ; but 
they understand it, and have literary tempera- 
ments, which will permit them to do the highest 
grade of review work. 

Good book reviewing requires an intimate 
knowledge of literature, both ancient and modern, 
and a close familiarity with authors and their 
styles. 



48 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

Some newspapers, however, make a specialty of 
book reviewing, and their reviews are considered 
authoritative. 

The book reviewer frequently does other work, 
which adds to his income, and he may obtain ad- 
ditional money by selling the books which he re- 
viewed. This practice, although it would appear 
to be unethical, has become common, and pub- 
lishers will purchase the books that they have 
given to the reviewer for review, at the wholesale 
price. 

The average editor is not a good book reviewer. 

Book reviewing may be considered a trade by 
itself, and not a part of active journalism. 



CHAPTER XIV 

The Financial Editor 

THE leading newspapers carry daily from a 
few columns to a whole page or more of 
financial news and comment, including stock 
reports. 

Americans, more than those of any other nation- 
ality, are of speculative temperaments. Prob- 
ably three fourths of the men, other than of the 
laboring classes, and not a few women, are tran- 
sient or regular readers of financial news ; and 
hundreds of thousands of persons, who are not 
speculators, follow the stock market to some ex- 
tent. 

The newspaper, even when published in a small 
city, finds it necessary to recognize this demand; 
and practically every newspaper, with the excep- 
tion of the country weeklies, maintains a financial 
department, but only the larger papers employ 
financial editors. 



50 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

The financial editor occupies a position of 
great responsibility, and draws a salary of sev- 
eral thousand dollars. 

He need not be a versatile or talented writer, 
but he must have an intimate acquaintance with 
men of financial affairs, and be able to weigh the 
value of stocks and bonds with some degree of 
accuracy. He must be concise, and should be 
conservative. 

The regular journalist, or editorial writer, is 
unfitted to assume this position. 

The financial editor, although he is on the staff 
of the newspaper, is not a journalist under the 
common definition of the term. He has prob- 
ably been connected, directly or indirectly, with 
some brokerage house, or else he has become fa- 
miliar with stocks and bonds through much ex- 
perience. He is not, as a rule, a speculator, 
probably because he is in a position to realize the 
desperate chances taken by those who play the 
market. 

He obtains his news from the stock boards, 
from the brokers and bankers, and some of it 
comes by special wire. 



THE FINANCIAL EDITOR 51 

His department is very largely removed from 
the others, and he has little to do with the man- 
agement of the paper, his responsibility being 
limited to the accomplishment of his special work. 

The smaller daily newspapers carry financial 
news, but do not maintain financial departments, 
the work being under the direction of one of 
the editors, or attended to by some local broker. 



CHAPTER XV 

The Political Editor 

MOST newspapers, both large and small, are 
affiliated with, or support, one of the 
great political parties ; but the truly great news- 
paper does not allow party influence to interfere 
with its news, or with its policy, outside of the 
editorial columns. 

There are, however, quite a number of so- 
called independent papers, which either are, or 
are supposed to be, nonpolitical. But all news- 
papers, whether partisan or independent, edi- 
torially refer to political parties and to politics. 

The great newspaper employs one or more edi- 
tors, who make a specialty of political editorials, 
and who keep in the closest touch with party 
movements. They may or may not write upon 
other subjects. 

In the majority of papers, however, one of the 
52 



THE POLITICAL EDITOR 53 

regular editors attends to politics, in connection 
with his other duties. 

The political editor's position is one of great 
responsibility, if his paper is strongly partisan, 
and he enjoys an income of several thousand dol- 
lars a year. 

Many of the political editorials, however, are 
written by outside writers, who receive nominal 
salaries, or work by the piece. The editor-in- 
chief is likely to write most of the leading polit- 
ical editorials, even though the newspaper 
employs a political editor. 



CHAPTER XVI 

The Reference Editor 

THE great newspaper maintains a depart- 
ment of reference, under the direction of a 
chief, with one or more assistants, whose duties 
are to index or file all important matters of news, 
for which may arise occasion for reference. 
They have what is known as a " graveyard," 
which carries, properly indexed, the biographies, 
of, and other information about, prominent per- 
sonages of the city, the state, the nation, and the 
world. This department carries a well-main* 
tained biographical library, as well as an envelope 
file of clippings. The editors and reporters have 
access to this information, most of which is in- 
stantly available. 

If a prominent man dies, an editor connected 
with this department immediately prepares a 
biography, which appears in connection with the 

news announcing his death. The telegraphic dis- 

54 



THE REFERENCE EDITOR 66 

patch, perhaps, contains only these words, " Con- 
gressman George W. Smith died at eleven o'clock 
last night." This announcement may be followed 
by a long or short biography. 

It is a common custom, in newspaper offices, to 
place in type the biography or life of a prominent 
man, if he is dangerously ill, so that the news- 
paper will be prepared to give him a column or 
more, should he expire just before the paper goes 
to press. 

It is said that some newspapers keep on file 
more than a hundred thousand biographies and 
other references. 

To illustrate the importance and efficiency of 
this department, may I submit, by way of exam- 
ple, the following: A great railroad accident 
occurs. The reference editor, in a few moments, 
can give a reporter, or other writer, a complete 
list of similar accidents or those which have oc- 
curred during the year, and they may be woven 
into the report. 

From this department, the editors and report- 
ers can obtain information which materially adds 
to the value of their reports. 



56 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

Let us suppose, that the jury had brought in 
a verdict in an important case. The reference 
department has, ready for immediate delivery, 
newspaper clippings and other information con- 
cerning the trial, and a resume of it may be writ- 
ten to accompany the announcement of the 
verdict. 

The reference department contains practically 
everything which is likely to be used, and which 
will enable the editor or reporter to make his 
editorial, article, or report of any event much 
more comprehensive, valuable, and interesting, 
than would be possible if this information was 
not at instant command. 

The reference editor is quite an important per- 
sonage, has a very retentive memory, is systematic, 
and is somewhat of an historian. His salary 
ranges from fifteen hundred to even three thou- 
sand dollars a year. 

The smaller papers do not employ reference 
editors, but usually maintain a reference library, 
to which the entire staff has access. It is at- 
tended to by one of the regular editors. 



CHAPTER XVII 

The Night Editor 

THE great morning newspaper employs what 
is known as a night editor, whose special 
duty is to remain until the newspaper goes to 
press. 

In the absence of the editor-in-chief or man- 
aging editor he is in complete control. It is for 
him to designate, at the last moment, what shall 
and shall not appear, and he may exercise this 
right without hindrance, except that he has no 
control over what the editor-in-chief or managing 
editor has peremptorily ordered to be published. 

Quite often, after the paper is practically 
made up, an important event occurs, which neces- 
sitates the use of large space; and much news, 
which has already been set, must be omitted to 
make room for it. 

The night editor must possess discriminating 
67 



58 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

ability of the highest order, and be able instan- 
taneously to decide important questions. 

Most night editors have set type, and are able 
to read it. Late at night they stand over the 
forms in the composing room, and direct the 
make-up man, ordering this article in and this 
one out. 

As the night editor occupies a place of con- 
siderable responsibility, he is paid from two to 
even three or four thousand dollars a year. 

The position of night editor does not always 
exist in the small newspaper offices, as the editor 
himself is likely to remain until the newspaper 
goes to press. 

The night editor, however, may have other 
duties and occupy some editorial chair other than 
acting as the " last editor on deck." 



CHAPTER XVIII 

The Sporting Editor 

ALL metropolitan newspapers, and many 
which are published in the smaller cities, 
employ sporting editors, who are directly respon- 
sible for the sporting news, — local, national, and 
international. 

The attention given to sports has grown tre- 
mendously during the last few years, many news- 
papers devoting from one to several pages to 
sporting matters, and especially to baseball. 

The sporting editor need not necessarily be 
an athlete, or have been, or be, actively engaged 
in sports; but he must be thoroughly familiar 
with them, both technically and generally, that 
he may be able to present the news and data in- 
terestingly to his readers. He should be inti- 
mately acquainted with leading sporting men, 
and thoroughly understand the rules and regula- 



60 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

tions of every sport, from baseball to football, 
from canoeing to yachting. 

The sporting editor usually begins as a regu- 
lar reporter, in which position he was trained to 
handle news in general, as well as to write special 
or sporting events. The chances are that he has 
sometime, during his life, actively engaged in 
sports, or was a patron of sports. 

The writing of sporting news may be consid- 
ered an art in itself, and this work cannot be 
acceptably handled by one who does not have an 
aptitude for it. 

The ball field, and other fields of sport, have 
a vernacular of their own, which the sporting 
editor must be familiar with; otherwise, he can- 
not present events to the satisfaction of the 
reader of sports. 

Probably more license is given to the handling 
of sports than to any other department of jour- 
nalism, and what would not be considered good 
English or even refinement, is, by custom, per- 
missible in the sporting columns. 

Because practically aU men, and some women, 
are directly or indirectly interested in one or 



THE SPORTING EDITOR 61 

more sports, the sporting editor occupies a posi- 
tion which commands a large salary, even running 
into the thousands, comparatively few first-class 
ones receiving less than three thousand dollars a 
year. 

The sporting editor has the assistance of many 
of the reporters on the regular staff, who are 
competent to write upon the subject, and he often 
obtains articles from leading sportsmen, which 
add materially to the value of the sporting pages. 

The smaller newspapers, however, do not, as a 
rule, employ a sporting editor or reporter, who 
gives his entire time to sports, but one of the 
editors or reporters handles them in connection 
with other work. 

The syndicate companies are now furnishing 
sporting matter, with illustrations, which is sent 
to the newspapers in the form of proofs, or in 
matrix, or in plates, enabling them to obtain, at 
small expense, the gist of the sporting news 
other than local. 



CHAPTER XIX 

The Head or Caption Writer 

THE circulation of the newspaper is not inde- 
pendent of the headings it uses over news 
and other matter. Many readers do not peruse 
any article at length, or read it in its entirety, 
but depend upon the headings for information. 

This condition commercially justifies the use of 
large type and sensational headlines. 

Because of the demand for startling, sensa- 
tional, and descriptive headings, the heading 
writer occupies a position of much responsibility. 
He should be a rapid reader and able to get at 
the gist of an article or piece of news at a glance, 
that he may describe or present the subject in the 
heading, with or without subheadings, so that 
the reader may anticipate what the article con- 
tains. 

The heading must not only give information. 



THE HEAD OR CAPTION WRITER 63 

but it must create interest on the part of the 
reader. 

It is quite necessary that the heading writer 
have a knowledge of type, that he may be able 
instantly to write a heading which will typograph- 
ically fit into the space given him and follow the 
typographical dress of the paper. 

While all editors and reporters are fairly ef- 
ficient headline writers, comparatively few of 
them are experts at it. Efficiency in this direc- 
tion seems to require a special aptitude, and may 
be considered as an art in itself. 

The writer of headings, however, usually has 
other duties, and may be a desk editor. 



CHAPTER XX 

The City Editor 

METROPOLITAN newspapers, and those 
published in cities of fair size, maintain 
a city department under the management of what 
is known as a city editor, who usually employs 
one or more assistants. This official is respon- 
sible for the gathering of the local news, and is 
in direct charge of all of the reporters, including 
the suburban news-gatherers, unless there is a 
special editor over them. 

He keeps an assignment book or diary, in 
which he enters, frequently as far ahead as a year, 
events which are scheduled to take place or which 
may occur. 

In addition to this he carries, properly filed, 
clippings relative to coming and past events, to 
which his reporters, as well as himself, have ac- 
cess. 

Each day he assigns the principal work for 
64 



THE CITY EDITOR 65 

the reporters, giving to each one of them some- 
thing specific to do. He is, in fact, the local 
news captain, and his reporters may be likened 
to scouts. He is held responsible for all of the 
local news, and it is for him to designate the 
length of the reports. The manuscript or copy 
of everything brought in, however, after passing 
over his desk, is usually sent to the readers, if 
the newspaper has them, and from there goes to 
the composing room. 

The city editor, as a rule, engages his report- 
ers and discharges them at will, although occa- 
sionally applications and discharges must be 
passed upon by the managing editor or the editor- 
in-chief. 

The position of city editor is of tremendous 
importance, for unless he be competent, the 
newspaper may not hope to maintain an extensive 
local circulation. 

The city editor's salary ranges from two thou- 
sand to possibly five thousand dollars a year on 
the great metropolitan newspaper, although 
comparatively few of them receive the larger sum. 
His assistants are paid from twenty-five to forty 



66 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

dollars a week, and some of them may receive 
more. 

The city editor is usually a versatile and pro- 
lific writer, but he may succeed without the ability 
to produce matter. 

On the great newspapers, the city editor does 
little or no writing, devoting his energies to the 
superintendence of his reporters. 

Practically all, and I think I may say all, city 
editors, were once reporters ; otherwise, they 
would not be competent to fill the ojQSce. They 
must be thoroughly familiar with local affairs, 
with local names and reputations ; and they must, 
further, be expert discriminators of news, that 
they may, at a glance, decide the space which any 
particular article or news is entitled to. 

The city editor must keep his finger upon the 
local pulse, and seemingly and intuitively know 
what the readers most desire. Not only should 
he be familiar with every department of the news- 
paper, but he must work in close harmony with 
the other editors and managers ; for it is obvious 
that the amount of space which he will have at 
his disposal on any one day is not independent 



THE CITY EDITOR 67 

of the volume of important telegraphic or general 
news, or of the advertising. 

The city editor must be able to anticipate, to 
some extent, and to decide almost instantaneously, 
the amount of space which he can give that day 
to the local news, and so proportion it that the 
paper will cover its field, with little omitted, even 
though concentration may be necessary. 

The city editor of a smaller daily frequently 
does some of the reporting, and his best reporter 
acts as his assistant, although he may not hold 
the title of assistant city editor. Small dailies 
do not, as a rule, employ city editors, as the edi- 
tor himself assumes the management of many, if 
not all, of the departments. 

The city editor of a newspaper outside of the 
large cities is paid from a thousand to two thou- 
sand dollars a year, the average salary not ex- 
ceeding fifteen hundred dollars. 

Unless the city editor is a proficient writer, he 
is likely to remain in the city department and 
not to be promoted to the editorial desk or to the 
managing editorship. But I think fully one-half 
of the editorial writers, managing editors, and 



68 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

editors-in-chief served apprenticeship in the re- 
portorial ranks, and acted as city editors for a 
while. In no other way can they obtain a close 
insight into human affairs, and the discipline of 
the city desk, following that of reportorial work, 
gives them a grasp upon current conditions 
which will be of material benefit to them in every 
department of journalism. 



CHAPTER XXI 

The Reporter 

THE reporter is, journalistically speaking, a 
gatherer of news, and most reportorial 
work is confined to the writing of local happen- 
ings. 

The great metropolitan newspaper maintains 
a residential staff of from twenty-five to fifty 
reporters, a part of them being known as regular 
reporters or reporters-at-large, who do the work 
assigned to them by their city editors, while 
others are called district and special men, whose 
duties are to cover prescribed or local territory, 
or to handle some one class of news. 

The district men are under the direction of the 
suburban editor, or of the city editor, if there is 
no suburban editor. These reporters are largely 
in command of themselves, and their work is not 
laid out for them. They are supposed to cover 



70 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

their territory according to their own judgment, 
giving preference to the news which would be es- 
pecially interesting to their constituency. 

The regular reporters are connected with the 
home office staff, make their headquarters in the 
city room of the newspaper, and receive daily 
instructions from the city editor, who keeps an 
assignment book, and lays out the work for his 
men, giving to each one of them an important 
assignment or several of minor consequence. As 
a rule, one reporter is assigned to a piece of 
work, but if it is of unusual importance two or 
more may cover it, the city editor, or the reporter 
in charge of it, running these reports together, 
so that the result appears to be written by one 
person. For example: a murder has been com- 
mitted, and the crime, with its connections, is of 
sufficient importance for a first-page story. It 
is quite obvious that no one reporter could handle 
it, so several reporters are assigned to the work, 
the responsible reporter doing the better or larger 
part of it. 

Every great newspaper employs two or more 
reporters of unusual ability, who are assigned 



THE REPORTER 71 

to cover important events. They are usually 
versatile writers, who can acceptably handle any- 
thing from a tragedy to a convention. They may 
or may not be stenographers. If they are not, 
and a stenographic report is necessary, a short- 
hand man will be assigned, who will work under 
their direction. 

But every regular reporter, although more or 
less of a specialist, and better adapted to one class 
of work than to reporting in general, is usually 
able to cover successfully practically every event 
which occurs. 

Leading newspapers employ several depart- 
ment reporters, each of whom devotes the major 
part of his time to some one class of news, — one 
reporter covering courts, another fires, another 
politics, etc. 

On the staff are one or more reporters, who 
are competent to handle special articles, and 
who are able to write out their impressions of 
famous men who are visiting the city; or to cover 
the dedication of a monument, or the opening of 
a bridge or railroad. These men have, at least, 
the semblance of a literary style, and most of 



7^ THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

them could, if they would, produce acceptable 
magazine or book matter. 

Of course, every reporter is supposed to keep 
his eyes open, and to bring to the office any news 
which he happens to run across, even though it 
may be out of his jurisdiction. If he has time, 
he writes it himself. If not, the city editor as- 
signs a reporter to the work. 

Suburban reporters, — those handling a terri- 
tory or territories exclusively, — do not go out- 
side of their districts. If a very important event 
occurs, the city editor assigns to them one or 
more regular staff men, who, in most cases, work 
under their direction. Much of the news gath- 
ered by the suburban reporters is telephoned or 
telegraphed to the office. 

Staff or regular reporters, — those directly 
connected with the office of the newspaper, and 
who work under the immediate direction of the 
city editor, — are paid from ten to even fifty 
dollars a week, the latter salary being enjoyed 
by comparatively few. The first-class staff re- 
porter, however, if upon a great newspaper, will 
draw a salary of about twenty-five dollars a week. 



THE REPORTER 73 

Most newspapers employ what are known as 
" cub " reporters, many of whom are recent grad- 
uates of college. A proportion, and, perhaps, a 
large one, of these men, do not make good, and 
leave the newspaper business eventually. They 
are paid from ten to twelve dollars a week, at the 
start, and are promoted if they deserve it. 

In addition to salaries paid to the reporter, 
he is allowed an expense account, so that he will 
go to no personal expense when working at a dis- 
tance from the office. 

The reporter, however, lunches and dines at his 
own expense, and pays his own car-fare from 
home to office, the newspaper reimbursing him for 
traveling expenses while on duty, and for board 
and lodging if he is unable to return to his home, 
and allowing for his meals if he is obliged to eat 
some distance from the office. 

The suburban reporter is allowed traveling ex- 
penses when away from his home town. 

Nearly all of the large newspapers employ 
what are known as space-writers, — reporters 
who work by the column and are paid from four 
to even ten dollars per column for what is printed. 



74 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

five dollars being the average price per column. 
The space-writer is not paid for what he writes, 
except occasionally, but only for what is printed 
of what he writes. For example: if he turns in 
copy sufficient for a column, and the editor con- 
denses it into half a column, he is paid for half 
a column and not for the column he has written, 
unless he is working under special arrangement. 
These space-reporters may receive assignments 
from the city editor, or they may work at large, 
turning into the newspaper what they think 
would be acceptable to it. Some of them devote 
their time exclusively to one paper, while others 
produce matter to be sold to the syndicates, and 
many of them are literary writers. 

Provincial or small city newspapers employ 
from two to even a dozen reporters, most of whom 
are on salaries, and receive from ten to twenty- 
five dollars a week, the average pay being about 
twelve dollars ; and these papers also use the work 
of space-writers. 

The work of all of these reporters is similar to 
that of those on the large city dailies. 

Suburban or district reporters for a metropoli- 



THE REPORTER 75 

tan newspaper are paid from ten to forty dollars 
a week, but the average salary probably does not 
exceed twenty or twenty-five dollars. 

This class of reporters, on the smaller dailies, 
receives as little as five dollars a week, and prob- 
ably seldom more than fifteen dollars, unless they 
cover a very large territory. 

Small daily newspapers pay space-writers from 
three to five dollars per column. 

Not more than a half of the country news- 
papers, which are usually published weekly, main- 
tain a paid reportorial staff. A large part of the 
news is sent in, or collected by the editor himself. 
These papers, however, may receive news from 
as many as a dozen, or even fifty, country corre- 
spondents, many of whom are teachers or clerks, 
and who give but a small part of their time to 
reporting. They receive from two to three or 
even five dollars a week, but many of them work 
far " glory." 

The first-class country newspaper, however, 
usually employs one salaried reporter, who acts 
as assistant editor, and who is paid from ten to 
-even twenty dollars a week. 



76 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

Reporters confine their labors almost ex- 
clusively to the collecting and writing of news, 
and occasionally to the preparation of special 
articles, and are not allowed to use the editorial 
" we," unless they are connected with a country 
newspaper. 

Nothing contributes more to editorial or lit- 
erary proficiency than does reportorial experi- 
ence. The reporter, more than any other class 
of writer, gets close to men and things. His pro- 
fession allows him to have the most intimate rela- 
tions with both joy and sorrow, with the action 
of both business and the professions, and with 
everything which is a part of human life. He is 
always on the firing line, or is seated at the top 
of the observation tower. Nothing may occur 
outside of the line of his vision. He visits the 
sorrowful widow one day, the would-be suicide 
another, talks with the captain of industry, the 
clerk, the labor leader, and the workman. He is 
in court to-day, and at a wedding to-morrow. 
The lights and shadows of life pass before him 
in moving pictures, which seem to have no begin- 
ning and which never cease their rolling. The 



THE REPORTER 77 

reporter may exclaim, more truly than can any 
other man, " The world is mine ! " 

The discipline of the newspaper office, however 
hard it may be, teaches concentration of both 
eye and brain. 

Practically all of our leading editorial writers 
and editors-in-chief graduated from that great 
educational institution of learning, — the repor- 
torial school. 

While a few editors haTe gained distinction 
without reportorial experience, the majority of 
them have marched in the ranks and have success- 
fully carried the gun of journalism before they 
were permitted to wield the pen which is mightier 
than the sword. 

I would most emphatically advise every would-be 
journalist to enter the newspaper house through 
the reportorial door. In no other way can he ob- 
tain the fundamental experience so necessary to 
journalistic success. Without this experience, he 
may succeed. With it, his success will be more 
marked. 

Further, I would suggest that an apprentice- 
ship on a country newspaper be enjoyed by the 



78 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

embryo journalist, for the great city newspaper 
cannot, at the start, give its attaches the inti- 
mate contact with conditions which is necessarily 
a part of the everyday life of every country news- 
paper man. 

The country editor or reporter finds himself in 
close touch, not only with outside conditions, but 
with every department of his paper. His desk 
is near the composing room, and he writes within 
the sound of the clatter of the press. He is 
nearer to conditions than would ever be possible 
in the great newspaper office, which is one 
huge journalistic machine, divided into depart- 
ments, few of which are closely allied to the 
others. 

I am sorry to say that the majority of report- 
ers enter journalism with no particular desire for 
the work, and take it up for no well-defined rea- 
son. They seem to be somewhat fascinated with 
it, and go into it blindly. Many of them fail, 
and a few of those who remain are promoted, or 
else become dissatisfied or disgruntled men, who 
work automatically, and who earn hardly enough 
to live respectably. This condition, however, pre- 



THE REPORTER 79 

vails in every business, and no one should refuse 
to enter journalism on that account. 

What makes the good reporter; that is to say, 
what kind of a man is likely to succeed in this 
.profession? It is difficult to diagnose indica- 
tions of reportorial proficiency, or to present an 
intelligent psychological study of the composition 
of the brain which is more likely to succeed than 
to fail in the gathering of news. 

In this calling, perhaps more than in any other, 
it is obvious that no one could hope to make good 
unless he first of all loves it more than anything 
else. If he has not an active mind, which will 
manifest itself in an active pen, if he cannot ac- 
ceptably write upon paper what he sees, if he 
has no imagination, if he is purely automatic in 
his work, if he has no ambition and would as lief 
take up one thing as another, he had better shun 
journalism as he would the plague. 

While an intense and natural love of journal- 
ism is essential for the flush of success in it, there 
must be something more than the mere desire. 
The would-be reporter must have, at least, some 
reason to believe that he is competent, or will 



80 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

become so, to meet newspaper conditions. If he 
is not naturally a ready writer, and finds he can- 
not, after practicing, intelligently, correctly, and 
concisely place both facts and impressions upon 
paper, he cannot hope to become a good news- 
paper man. Further, the good reporter, even 
though he may eventually become an editor, must 
have what is known, in newspaper vernacular, as 
" a nose for news." He must not only be able 
to handle what is before him, but he must have 
that peculiar natural ability to find it by assum- 
ing that it exists. He must be diplomatic, be- 
cause he will meet all sorts and conditions of 
people. He must be able to discriminate between 
what is good news and what is of no importance. 
He must, in advance, be competent to know what 
a particular piece of news is worth to his news- 
paper, and then be able to write out, not neces- 
sarily what he wants to say, but what the 
newspaper considers sufficiently pertinent for 
publication. He must be able to size up a situa- 
tion often almost instantaneously. Further, he 
should be a good judge of human nature, and 
be able, by contact with men, to discriminate be- 



THE REPORTER 81 

tween the truth and its opposite. He must learn 
how to believe and disbelieve what is told him, to 
separate the grains of news from the dust. He 
must have the faculty to keep his finger upon the 
public pulse, and to discern the pulsations of 
the wants of the people. 

If he does not possess all, or nearly all, of these 
requisites, he would fail as a reporter, arid would 
be unfit to enter any other department of active 
journalism. 

Let not the would-be reporter or newspaper 
man deceive himself into believing that his aca- 
demic education, even if it be collegiate, will, in 
itself, make him either a good reporter or jour- 
nalistic writer. While book or schoolroom learn- 
ing counts mightily, and while a common school 
education is necessary, all of the book knowledge 
in the world will be worthless in newspaper work 
if its possessor does not know how to apply it. 
In no other calling is the application of learning 
more essential. 

Thousands of our leading journalists did not 
enjoy a college education, and yet many of them 
would have probably been better writers and 



8^ THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

newspaper men if they had graduated from a 
high institution of learning; but the college in 
itself does not fit one for newspaper work, nor 
does it unfit him to follow this vocation. It will 
benefit him, if he uses it as he should, as it would 
assist him in any other department of work; but 
the man, more than his education, harvests suc- 
cess in the newspaper field. 

Do not, however, belittle the importance of an 
academic education. Without a certain amount 
of it, one would be handicapped all along the 
journalistic line. 

My advice to the would-be reporter is, — if I 
may condense it into a few words, — enter jour- 
nalism if your desire is natural, and you have 
reason to believe, by preliminary experience, that 
you can succeed at it. But you should not take 
up this calling as a means of livelihood, until 
you have thoroughly investigated it, by contact 
with newspaper men of standing, who will tell 
you, if you ask them, what you must expect, and 
what you should be and must do, if you would 
make good as a newspaper writer. 

If the investigation discourages you sufficiently 



THE REPORTER 83 

to produce a reasonable doubt in your mind, con- 
sider some other calling, which does not require 
that special ability which is absolutely essential 
for success in journalism. 

This subject has been further treated in the 
chapter entitled " A Nose for News," and in 
other chapters. 



CHAPTER XXII 

A " Nose for News " 

INELEGANT though the expression, a " nose 
for news," may be, it is certainly comprehen- 
sive and self-explanatory, and has become a 
classic of journalistic slang. Some men have it, 
and some do not. It is usually born in or on a 
man, and it can be acquired to some extent; but 
many may not hope to become proficient in news- 
gathering, even though they struggle at it con- 
scientiously and for a lifetime. 

The very air is filled with news. It is on every 
corner waiting for the news-gatherer. It is 
closeted in every residence, and every business 
block is filled with it. News does not have to be 
created; it is there. It has to be gathered. 

Allow me to relate an experience: Many years 
ago, when I was conducting a daily newspaper, 
my head news-gatherer attempted to break in a 

84 



A " NOSE FOR NEWS " 85 

" cub " reporter. He sent the young fellow out 
onto the street and told him to pick up what he 
could find. The " cub " reporter returned, dis- 
couraged and disconsolate, and without a single 
item, good, bad, or otherwise. He had hung 
around corners and visited stores, he had waylaid 
policemen and had attempted to interview pro- 
fessional men. He was conscientious and earnest, 
and had done his utmost to accomplish some re- 
sult. 

The head reporter questioned him. 

"How did you start in, my boy? " he asked. 

" Oh," replied the " cub " reporter, " I went 
up to a man and asked him if there was any news 
to-day." 

" And he said ' No 1 ' " interjected the head re- 
porter. 

" How did you know it? " inquired the " cub." 

'' Why," answered the head reporter, " every- 
body says he hasn't any news, whether he has any 
or not." 

" Oh! " ejaculated the « cub." 

" Come with me," said the head reporter ; and 
they went out arm in arm. 



86 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

*'We will tackle that fellow over there," said 
the head reporter. 

He addressed him with a hearty " Good-morn- 
ing." 

" Did you leave Greenfield this morning? " in- 
quired the head reporter politely. 

*^Yep," replied the farmer. 

*'What kind of a corn crop are you going to 
fiave? '' 

** Looks as so it was goin* ter beat the record," 
answered the farmer heartily. 

" All of you fellers up there are planting corn, 
ain't yer? " inquired the head reporter. 

*'Purty much all," answered the farmer. 

*' About how many acres of corn have you ? " 

*' Something like a dozen," answereH the farmer 
proudly. 

" Well," said the heaii reporter, ^^ with your ten 
or twelve acres how many acres in Greenfield are 
planted with corn? " 

'' I reckon 'bout seventy-five or so," replied the 
farmer. 

" Everybody been well up around your placi^ 
this spring.? " 



I 



A " NOSE FOR NEWS " 87 

*' Purt J much so," answered the farmer 
thoughtfully, " 'cept Uncle Bill, the chairman of 
our selectmen, is jest gittin' over pleurisy, and 
Jim Jones got six hosses down with the 
epizudy." 

Bidding the farmer a cordial good-morning, 
the head reporter drew the " cub " away. 

" Now, my dear boy," he said, " that fellow 
would have answered ' No ' if you had asked him 
if he had any news, yet he has given us four first- 
class items. Let's tackle somebody else." 

The reporter hailed the postmaster with a 
hearty " Good-morning, Mr. Smith. How's busi- 
ness ? " 

" Same as usual," answered the postmaster. 

" Of course, I know you fellbws don't have a 
clearance sale," said the head reporter, " but 
hasn't that new mail-order concern increased your 
receipts ? " 

" Oh, yes," replied the postmaster, " last month 
we received from them, and delivered to them, over 
seven thousand letters." 

The head reporter nudged the " cub " repor- 
ter. 



88 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

" Let's drop into the drug store and get a 
glass of soda," suggested the head reporter. 

While the soap-suds and syrup were being 
drunk, the head reporter entered into a conver- 
sation with the soda-water dispenser, and before 
he had drained his glass, he had eight items about 
folks who were sick, three of whom were prominent 
men, two of them well-known women, and three 
children belonging to the first families ; and yet 
the drug clerk did not know that he had news upon 
his person. 

" Ah, good-morning, Doctor ! " exclaimed the 
head reporter, as a prominent physician ap- 
proached him. '' How are things going at the 
new House of Mercy? " 

" Oh," exclaimed the cloctor, with emphasis, 
" we have just received a bequest from the Widow 
Jones of twenty-four thousand dollars, which is 
going to be used for the new tuberculosis wing." 

" Let's call on Lawyer Brief," suggested the 
head reporter. The Hon. Mr. Brief was a poli- 
tician and had held several offices. In the course 
of conversation he gave the reporter more than 
a dozen first-class items of news concerning local 



A " NOSE FOR NEWS " 89 

candidates and politicigms, including many prob- 
abilities or possibilities. 

The head reporter approached several others, 
and in less than half an hour he had obtained over 
thirty items of news, twenty of which were of 
some importance, and all of them were worth 
printing. 

I had in my employ, several years ago, a man 
who obtained double the number of good news 
items that were brought in by any two, or even 
three, average reporters, simply because he was a 
collector of news and knew how to approach peo- 
ple. 

Of course, when the reporter is assigned to 
attend a convention or other function, he cannot 
easily avoid obtaining the necessary news, but un- 
less he has what is known as a " nose for news " 
he would fail to collect ninety per cent of what 
is floating in the air about him. 

News does not come, as a rule, but it has to 
be obtained, — sought for, dug for, and worked 
for. 

Ninety per cent of the men and women who 
ostentatiously claim to have no respect for local 



90 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

items, and who may take pride in openly despis- 
ing the newspaper, take that stand wholly for 
effect ; when, as a matter of fact, they are habit- 
ual readers of even unimportant items, and pur- 
chase several copies of every paper mentioning 
their name or what they have done. 

I recall another instance when I was a " cub " 
reporter for a city newspaper. I was librarian 
of a suburban Sunday-School. The church 
building was destroyed by fire, but the insurance 
was sufl5cient for rebuilding. The building com- 
mittee had for its chairman a full-blooded, strong, 
and sturdy business man, who appeared to be 
devoid of sentiment, and who seemed only to enjoy 
playing the game of business. I was an ambi- 
tious young librarian, and took much pride in 
my work. I desired to have the shelves enclosed 
with glass doors. I approached the chair- 
man, 

" Ther hain't goin' ter be no frills," he replied, 
*' I am goin' ter have a tough j ob rebuildin' the 
church with insurance money, and nothin's goin' 
inter it thet we don't need." 

I was discouraged, and naturally unbosomed 



A " NOSE FOR NEWS " 91 

myself to my city editor, who was a kind-hearted 
fellow, and who took a fancy to me. 

" I'll tell you what to do," he said. " Write 
up old Meg-gs. I know him, and although he's 
always kicking against the newspapers, a compli- 
mentary item will please him." 

I wrote him up, and said, among other things, 
that no one but William R. Meggs, Esq. could re- 
build the church with the limited insurance 
money. I informed the readers that he was the 
strongest man on the committee, and that the 
congregation owed him a great deal of gratitude 
for the work he was doing. 

Among my other duties was that of ushering, 
and it was necessary for me to arrive early at 
the building which was used as a temporary 
church. Old Meggs was there before me. Shak- 
ing his fist in my face, he exclaimed, 

" Did yer write that item in the ' Tribune ' ? " 

I replied meekly, " Yes." 

Again shaking his fist in my face he burst out 
with, " If I catch you doin' it 'gin, I'll cowhide 
yer!" 

Silent and trembling I withdrew, and the next 



9^ THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

day related the instance to my city editor, and 
incidentally remarked that all hope for getting 
glass doors had disappeared. 

"Well, my boy," said the editor, "if you'll 
do as I say, I'll get you those glass doors." 

" It can't be done," I replied soberly. 

" Believe me," he said, " and do as I say." 

"What shall I do? " I inquired feebly. 

" Write up Old Meggs again." 

*' Write him up ! " I exclaimed. " He guar- 
anteed to lick me if I ever said anything about 
him again in the ' Tribune.' " 

" Rats ! " exclaimed the city editor. 

He thought for a moment, and then resumed, 
" Guess I'll have to write the item myself, because 
you don't seem to know how to lay it on thick 
enough." 

He composed an item, and handed me the copy 
of it. The complimentary remarks I had made 
about Old Meggs paled before his flowery lan- 
guage and superlative expressions. 

" Now, so that you can say you wrote it," he 
said, " you just rewrite it in your own way, but 
don't eliminate any of the adjectives." 



A " NOSE FOR NEWS " 93 

After a while he persuaded me to do so. 

With fear and trembling I entered the church 
on the following Sunday. Old Meggs was there, 
as usual. He held a copy of the " Tribune " in 
his hand. 

*' Did you write that stuff! " he ejaculated. 

Following instructions, I said, " Yes," and got 
ready to dodge. Instead of hitting me, a smile 
played on his face. Reaching out his hand he 
gave mine a hearty shake. 

" Well," he replied, " I suppose you fellers 
have got ter do it, an' we chaps have got ter stan' 
it. I've been thinkin' 'bout them glass winders, 
and I've seen the builder, and he said he guessed 
he could get 'em in some way." 

Another incident: A friend of mine, who, at 
the time, was the editor and proprietor of a high- 
class local newspaper, refused to carry the amount 
of local news, or what he considered unimportant 
news items, against the advice of his subordinates. 

Over the coffee-cups we discussed the matter, 
and I sided with his editors, assuring him that I 
thought he was pursuing the wrong policy. 

After much deep thought, he replied, " I'm be- 



94 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

ginning to think you're right, and I'll tell you 
why. My wife and I spent last Sunday at the 
home of a relative located in a country town. 
Somebody told us that the village paper had an 
item about us in it. My wife and I spent thirty 
minutes hunting for it, and, honestly, my dear 
fellow, we were disappointed at not finding it." 

It has been said, and with some degree of truth, 
that the person does not live who does not like 
to see himself in print, if what is said about him 
is complimentary, notwithstanding that many peo- 
ple show apparent disgust at unimportant items. 

Of course, the great city newspaper cannot 
refer to many things which would be of interest 
to the readers of smaller papers, but during the 
last few years many of the great city dailies 
have introduced departments, under headings 
like, " Table Talk," " The Observer," " Men and 
Things," etc., which contain items which are not 
far removed in character from the local news 
appearing in the country newspaper. 

Therefore, I say to you, if you are considering 
a journalistic career, and do not have a "nose 
for news," and cannot grow one after persistent 



A " NOSE FOR NEWS " 95 

effort, that it will be well for you to reconsider 
your decision to enter the newspaper business, 
and take up some other calling. 

While the editor himself may not have to prac- 
tice " nosing for news," the chances are that his 
present proficiency and ability to write upon the 
current events of the day are due, in large meas- 
ure, to the experience he obtained by gathering 
news as a reporter. 

I would most emphatically advise the would-be 
journalist, whose ambition it is eventually to oc- 
cupy the editorial chair, to obtain experience in 
the reportorial ranks, and to remain several years 
as a reporter, before attempting to occupy an- 
other journalistic position. 

The editor or reporter, who depends upon what 
comes to him, is going to be out of material and 
out of a job. 

The efficient journalist goes after things, not 
necessarily as a reporter, but he is on the alert. 
He is not merely a storehouse, with many en- 
trances and few exits ; he collects that he may 
(distribute, and he knows how to get at things as 
well as to use what he obtains. 



96 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

While the average literary writer would not 
make a good journalist, and would hardly succeed 
as a reporter, the first-class newspaper man, with 
reportorial experience, may graduate into litera- 
ture. Many of our best literary writers have 
served apprenticeship as reporters, and have oc- 
cupied editorial chairs. 

It may be said, subject to exceptions, that the 
man who does not possess the faculty of obtain- 
ing news will not be prolific in gathering material 
for any literary plot or action, which would be 
likely to interest the readers of story. 



CHAPTER XXIII 

The Space-Writer 

THE great daily newspaper, and practically 
all newspapers, with the exception of the 
majority of the weekly papers, employ, or accept 
the work of, what is known in the craft as " space- 
or piece-writers." 

The space-writer, or the man-on-space, as he 
may be called in the vernacular of the sanctum, 
does not receive a regular salary for his services, 
but is paid for what he writes, or rather for 
what is accepted and published of what he pro- 
duces, the price being based on the scale of a 
column, which, in the average newspaper, meas- 
ures about two inches in width by from twenty to 
twenty-one and a half inches in length. A 
twenty-inch column contains about two hundred 
and forty lines of type. Six Point size, set solid 

(that is, without spaces between the lines), and 

97 



98 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

each column will average about seventeen hundred 
words. 

The space-writer may not be paid for the space 
occupied by the headings. 

There is no standard price for space-writing, 
but comparatively few newspapers pay more than 
^ve dollars per column, and from that up to even 
twenty-five dollars a column for matter of impor- 
tance; but ten dollars per column may be consid- 
ered about all one is likely to receive for the work, 
unless it is of unusual importance or is exclu- 
sive. 

Weekly newspapers pay from two to three dol- 
lars per column. 

Most of the local news appearing in the daily 
newspapers is obtained by the regular staff re- 
porters, who are on salary, and many of them 
would receive double the income if they were al- 
lowed space rates for what they bring in. 

A space-writer, unless he be a suburban re- 
porter, devotes the larger part of his time to the 
preparation of special articles, which may not be 
considered as pure and simple local news, although 
they may have a local flavor. 



THE SPACE-WRITER 99 

The range of subjects is large, including inter- 
views with prominent men and women, and articles 
descriptive of anything which would interest the 
public, from the history of local bridges to an 
account of the first train which entered the pioneer 
depot. 

Many of these space-writers occupy other posi- 
tions, and do not depend wholly upon newspaper 
work for a livelihood. 

In every large city there is room for space- 
writers, but their income, unless they be especially 
proficient, is likely to be precarious, for it is ob- 
vious that the newspaper will purchase of them 
only what it cannot readily obtain from its regu- 
lar staff editors and reporters. 

Some reporters, however, prefer space rates to 
regular salaries, because they may work when 
and where they please ; and, if they possess un- 
usual ability, they may obtain more money than 
they would be likely to receive if they occupied 
salaried positions. 

The space-writer naturally comes in competi- 
tion with regular staff men, and he must be able 
either to get hold of news which the regulars have 



100 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

not obtained, or produce something out of the 
usual line of reporting or writing. 

Some regular newspaper reporters do space- 
work on the side. 

I have continued this subject in the chapter 
entitled " The Writers of Special Articles." 



CHAPTER XXIV 

The Writers of Special Articles 

THE demand for special articles upon every 
pertinent subject, and especially for the 
unusual and sensational, is responsible for a large 
number of journalists, who devote the better part 
of their time to the preparation of what may not 
be considered regular news, and yet has local fla- 
vor, and is, or is supposed to be, of interest to 
the average newspaper reader. 

These writers aTe usually men of considerable 
education, many of them being college graduates, 
and most of them possess distinct literary ability. 
Some of them have made their mark in literature, 
and are the authors of popular books. They may 
or may not have had experience on a newspaper, 
but I think the majority of them have served in 
the ranks. Their acquaintance is large, and they 
keep themselves well informed about current 

events. They can write upon almost any sub- 
101 



102 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

ject, and make a specialty of obtaining interviews 
with prominent men. 

For example, let us suppose that there is much 
public interest in the spread or cure of tubercu- 
losis. The special writer interviews several lead- 
ing physicians, and makes up his article from 
what is told him, or else presents what is said 
verbatim, with more or less introduction. 

A railroad may suffer from frequent disasters, 
and the occurrence of accidents may seem to be 
epidemic. The special writer interviews railroad 
men and others, familiarizes himself with the his- 
tory of railroad accidents, and makes up an ar- 
ticle which covers both the past and the pres- 
ent. He interviews actors and actresses, and 
presents prominent features of the modern dra- 
ma, connecting them with the history of the 
stage. 

The pure food agitation gives him material. 
He takes up the educational side of life, and pre- 
sents expert opinion culled from the interviews 
he has with prominent educators. Crime offers a 
fertile field. 

Many of these articles occupy an entire page. 



WRITERS OF SPECIAL ARTICLES 103 

and are copiously illustrated, usually from photo- 
graphs. 

While these special writers are paid by the 
column or page, the majority of them receive more 
for their work than do the regular space-writers 
of news. High rates are often paid for articles 
by leading men, who are not necessarily writers. 
For example: a new superintendent of schools 
is engaged. A newspaper, which will not pay its 
regular space-writer more than five dollars for 
matter obtained from an interview with the new 
superintendent, will give the superintendent from 
twenty-five to even forty dollars for an article 
over his signature. 

A few of these special writers depend upon their 
articles wholly for a livelihood, but most of them 
occupy salaried positions or do regular literary 
work. 

A proportion, and, perhaps, a large one, of 
special articles is sold to the syndicates, and dis- 
tributed by these companies to a dozen, or to even 
several hundred, newspapers. The syndicate, as 
a rule, will pay the writer more than he will re- 
ceive from any one newspaper. 



104 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

The special writer, then, may be considered both 
as a journalist and as a literary man. If he is 
able to succeed as a story writer, he can add to 
his income by producing special articles ; and if 
he is an expert at special-article writing, he can 
probably succeed along regular literary lines. 



CHAPTER XXV 

The Art Department 

THE great daily newspaper, and many of 
the smaller ones, maintain what are known 
as art departments, which furnish them with the 
illustrations that are not supplied by the syndi- 
cate companies. 

Connected with this department are one or more 
photographers, who usually give their entire time 
to the paper. They work in conjunction with the 
reporters, and take photographs whenever it 
seems desirable to do so. 

In connection with this department is a photo- 
engraving plant, which can produce, in less than 
one hour, a plate from a photograph suitable for 
newspaper use. 

Many of the newspapers illustrate all impor- 
tant events, including banquets, fires, and acci- 
dents, and run portraits of important or notorious 

personages. 

105 



106 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

The art department carries plates in stock, 
shelved and indexed like books in a library, to be 
used when occasion requires. 

Many of the illustrations appearing in the 
newspapers, however, are furnished by the syndi- 
cate companies, which distribute either stereotype 
plates or matrices, but all local illustrations must 
be obtained by those directly connected with the 
newspaper's art department. 

The manager of this department, and his as- 
sistants, are not necessarily journalists. A few 
of them are writers. They do the work desig- 
nated by the editors and reporters. 

Besides the syndicate and the newspaper art 
department, there is, in every large city, a pho- 
tographer who makes a specialty of carrying pho- 
tographs, principally of prominent personages, 
which he copyrights. These photographs may be 
obtained at a price, which includes the right to 
publish them. 

Reporters are usually instructed to obtain pho- 
tographs of persons written about, and pictures 
of the scenes of their stories. If they cannot get 



THE ART DEPARTMENT 107 

them, the photographer is detailed, or he accom- 
panies them in the first place. 

These photographers use instantaneous cam- 
eras, and are experts at focusing. If thej were 
not, it would be impossible to obtain even fairly 
good pictures of men and things, which must be 
taken by snapshot. 

The use of illustrations has become epidemic 
with more than half of the metropolitan newspa- 
pers, and the photographer is a necessary attache. 
With the aid of quick-acting plates, and the mod- 
ern efficiency in engraving, pictures of nearly 
every event may be procured and published within 
the period of hardly an hour. Illustrations of 
thousands of burning buildings have appeared in 
the newspapers while the firemen were endeavoring 
to extinguish the flames. 



CHAPTER XXVI 

Night Woek 

EDITORS and reporters of newspapers, 
whether or not morning editions are pub- 
lished, do at least a part of their work in the 
night. 

If the paper has a morning edition, the night 
staff begins at about two o'clock in the afternoon, 
and works until midnight or even later. The 
editor-in-chief, and all of the editorial writers, 
however, are not necessarily on duty after dark, 
provided one or more of the assistants remain in 
the office until an hour or so before the newspaper 
goes to press, that they may, if necessary, edi- 
torially comment upon an important event. 

If the newspaper publishes only swi evening edi- 
tion, and there are one or more morning papers 
in the same city, very little night work is done by 
either its reporters or editors, as much of the news 

108 



NIGHT WORK 109 

can be '* borrowed " or taken from the morning 
editions of its contemporaries. 

If the newspaper publishes both a morning and 
evening edition, the day and night staffs interlap 
each other to some extent. 

Newspaper men may not be able to keep regu- 
lar hours, and are dependent upon news and other 
conditions. They may be dismissed at eleven 
o'clock at night or may have to remain until two 
o'clock in the morning. If, however, they take 
good care of themselves, eat their meals regu- 
larly, and establish consistent sleeping hours, 
night work will not necessarily injure them. In 
fact, I know of many strong and rugged men, 
who are on duty the greater part of the night, 
and yet are apparently as healthy and robust as 
are those who do day work. Health is depend- 
ent upon regularity. If one works late at night, 
he must sleep late in the morning. 



CHAPTER XXVII 

NEWSr-DlSTRIBUTING COMPANIES, OR ASSOCIATIONS 

SEVERAL years ago there were established 
associations made up, owned, and controlled 
by the newspapers subscribing for their services. 
These associations maintain offices in the princi- 
pal cities, and employ several thousand men, com- 
paratively few of whom are on the office staffs. 
Each association has its head, who receives a large 
salary, probably not far from ten thousand dol- 
lars a year ; and territorial or branch managers, 
who are paid from two to five thousand dollars 
annually. 

Each office maintains a staff of editors, whose 
duties are to edit or revise the news which is sent 
in. 

The association employs one or several men in 
every large city, and the rest of the country is 
divided into districts, one or more men being re- 
sponsible for each district. 

110 



NEWS-DISTRIBUTING COMPANIES 111 

The so-called " home " editors, and their as- 
sistants, give their entire time to the work of the 
association; but the majority of the news- 
gatherers are reporters connected with local news- 
papers. These reporters send to the nearest 
branch office, or to the head office, usually by 
wire, everything which is supposed to be of in- 
terest to the readers of a section or of the whole 
of the country. 

For example: a news-gatherer located, say, at 
Springfield, Mass., will telegraph to the associa- 
tion office, in Boston, any event occurring in 
Springfield or vicinity, which he thinks would in- 
terest the inhabitants of Massachusetts, or of 
New England, or of the entire country. If the 
news he sends in is not likely to be of interest to 
other than Massachusetts readers, the Boston of- 
fice will not telegraph it to any papers outside 
of the state. If it is of more than state inter- 
est, it is sent, in whole or in part, to newspapers 
located outside of the state, and even to those 
on the Pacific coast. 

The branch or head office may be considered a 
hopper, into which is thrown the news coming 



112 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

from thousands of reporters located in as many 
cities, towns, or districts. This office adapts the 
news to the newspapers which are members of the 
association, sending the news in its entirety to 
certain newspapers, and half, or even less, of it 
to papers farther removed. The association is 
really a distributing institution, receiving the 
news of the world, usually by wire, and distribu- 
ting it to its members, giving each newspaper the 
amount which it is entitled to. 

Each newspaper pays to the association an 
amount per week based upon the average num- 
ber of words it receives. This service costs the 
great newspaper a thousand or more dollars a 
week, while the smaller newspaper may not pay 
more than forty-five or fifty dollars for the news 
it receives. Where there is more than one news- 
paper belonging to the association in a town, the 
news is written by the use of carbons, the same 
matter being sent to each paper. 

The reporters connected with these associations 
either work upon salary or at space rates. If 
upon salary, they receive from two hundred to 
even two thousand dollars a year; and five dol- 



NEWS-DISTRIBUTING COMPANIES 113 

lars or more per column, if they are space men. 

Most of the general and telegraphic news ap- 
pearing in the large newspapers comes from an 
association, although the great newspaper fre- 
quently carries special telegraphic news, which no 
other newspaper receives until after the news- 
paper paying for it has published it. 

By this arrangement, or system, the newspaper 
can obtain the news of the world at a very much 
lower cost than would be possible if its news was 
collected or obtained by reporters or correspond- 
ents connected with it. 

The managers of these associations, and their 
assistants, are invariably journalists of wide ex- 
perience, and some of them may have been edi- 
torial writers. 



CHAPTER XXVIII 

Plate Matter 

PLATE matter, or boiler plate, is the techni- 
cal term used for all matter, including the 
news, which is not set in the composing rooms of 
the newspaper printing it, but is purchased by 
the newspaper in the form of stereotypes from 
companies which are located in the principal 
cities. 

These concerns handle every class of matter, in- 
cluding telegraphic news, general news, stories, 
articles (with or without illustrations), cooking 
recipes, humorous stories and sketches, and gen- 
eral matter of every kind. They employ editors 
and a few reporters, but a part of what they 
handle is taken from newspapers and from other 
periodicals. 

The matter is set on the linotype or monotype, 

and is made up into columns, which are stereo- 

114 



PLATE MATTER 115 

typed. The newspapers subscribing to the serv- 
ice are furnished with what are known as " pat- 
ent blocks," which have adjustable bases for the 
holding of the stereotype plates. These plates 
are the same as ordinary stereotypes, except that 
they are somewhat in the form of a " T," the de- 
scending part being made of lead, which fits be- 
tween the block's or bases. This arrangement 
materially reduces the cost. 

Some of the matter is furnished in matrix form, 
but the matrix cannot be used except by news- 
papers carrying stereotyping plants, and very 
few of the weekly newspapers are equipped with 
them. 

The plate-makiiig company furnishes two kinds 
of services: First, general or telegraphic news 
at a specified price per week, or by the piece. 
The company sends to the newspapers proof 
sheets of what is in type, other than telegraphic 
news, and the newspaper purchases what it wants 
by the column or page, usually by the page. 
The price is very low, and seldom exceeds a few 
dollars a page, and there is a rebate on the re- 
turn of the plates. 



116 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

Thousands of country newspapers, including 
dailies, subscribe for this service, at a very heavy 
saving in cost of composition. A third or a half 
of all of the general and telegraphic news appear- 
ing in the daily newspapers, published outside of 
the large centers, comes by express and not by 
wire. The plate-making company maintains a 
news-gathering and -handling force, and supplies 
its subscribing newspapers with stereotyped 
plates sent daily by fast express. 

Let me present, for an example, an evening pa- 
per published in a city of, say, fifteen thousand 
population, and not more than a hundred miles 
from a large city. The plate-making company 
gathers the news occurring several hours later 
than that which appeared in the morning papers, 
stereotypes it, and delivers it to the local news- 
paper in time for its publication in the same 
afternoon. 

Most of these small dailies are members of a 
press association, and receive telegraphic news, 
but, by the use of this plate matter, they can 
present what occurs throughout the world at a 
much less expense than if they received all of 



PLATE MATTER 117 

their news by wire, and set it in their own of- 
fices. 

The plate companies also furnish uncompromis- 
ing and general editorials, which some of the 
papers use in connection with home-written and 
-set editorial comment. 

These plate companies handle syndicate mat- 
ter, and furnish plates or matrices of it to many 
of the large newspapers. 

The editors and reporters employed by the 
plate-making companies receive the salaries paid 
on the average daily newspapers, but it is not 
necessary that they be expert at editorial or 
other work, except those who write the " plated " 
editorials. 

These editors are usually desk men, and have 
little opportunity for the display of originality. 

Connected with the plate-making company, 
however, are one or more thoroughly trained and 
seasoned journalists, who are competent to orig- 
inate, and to obtain, special articles and other 
matter which the service demands. 

These companies offer very little opportunity 
for the outside writer, so far as news-gathering 



118 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

is concerned; but they will pay fair prices for 
special articles and stories and for department 
matter. Their work is similar to that of the reg- 
ular syndicate companies, of which I have spoken 
in another chapter, except that they handle tele- 
graphic and other news, while the so-called 
syndicate company confines its work to the dis- 
tribution of stories and articles. 



CHAPTER XXIX 

The Syndicate 

THE syndicate publisher is a modern institu- 
tion. Until quite recently he did not exist. 
The syndicate furnishes to newspapers of every 
class, every grade and kind of matter, presum- 
ably acceptable to the common reader. 

The syndicate purchases an original manu- 
script, or the matter may have appeared in book 
form or in some magazine. If the latter, it ob- 
tains the privilege of selling it to one or more 
newspapers. The matter is set in type, and a 
number of proofs are taken of it. Most of it, 
however, is stereotyped, and is sent out in the 
form of plates or matrices. 

The syndicate company usually pays either a 

lump sum for the newspaper rights of an article, 

or it may reimburse the author by giving him a 

percentage of the gross receipts. 

119 



120 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

The story or article in proof is submitted to 
the newspapers, but only one paper in a city, 
town, or territory is allowed to subscribe for it. 

The newspaper pays a stated price for ex- 
clusive rights within the field of its circulation, 
this sum varying with the size of the newspaper 
and the importance of its territory. 

Probably the highest sum paid by any one 
newspaper for a syndicate article or story has 
not exceeded three hundred dollars per chapter 
or article, but the average price is not more than 
one or two dollars, and occasionally runs as low 
as fifty cents. Even at the lowest price, the syn- 
dicate company may realize quite an amount, be- 
cause, after the article is set in type, the expense 
is limited to the taking of proofs and postage, to 
which, of course, must be added the overhead cost 
of running the business. If it is set in plates, 
an extra charge is made. 

Practically all of the matter appearing in the 
average newspaper, other than news and edi- 
torials, including the great majority of the 
special articles, except those of local character, 
come from the syndicate company. 



THE SYNDICATE 121 

The establishment of the syndicate is both ad- 
vantageous and disastrous to the writer: advan- 
tageous, because he is likely to receive a larger 
sum for his work than would be given him by any 
one newspaper ; and disastrous, because it de- 
creases the demand for literary productions. 

It is obvious that no one newspaper, even if 
very successful, will pay an author a hundred 
dollars for an article or story when it can pur- 
chase as acceptable matter for a few dollars. 

The j>ublic, however, is benefited, because by 
this arrangement it is able to obtain in the news- 
paper a higher grade of composition than would 
be likely to occur if the newspaper was obliged 
to pay the author's price. 

Country newspapers seldom, if ever, pay the 
author directly other than for news. The great 
bulk of the matter in the country newspaper, 
outside of the local news and the editorials, 
comes in the form of stereotypes, which are fur- 
nished to the newspaper; or a portion of its con- 
tents is not only set, but is printed by an outside 
company. Some of this plate matter, other than 
news, is copied, the author of it receiving no re- 



122 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

muneration from the plate-making company, or 
being paid for his work at very low rates. 

Most of the miscellany, including cooking 
recipes and general advice, which appears in the 
country newspapers, is plate matter, usually pre- 
pared or compiled by one of the editors, or by 
outsiders who work by the column. 

Most of the humorous articles, either wholly 
in text or with illustrations, which are carried 
by the newspapers, come through the syndicates, 
who employ artists as well as writers. It is said 
that one humorous artist receives as much as 
twenty-five thousand dollars a year for the work 
of his brush, combined, of course, with a limited 
amount of wording. 

The great newspaper, however, carries on its 
regular staff one or more cartoonists, who in most 
cases give their entire time to the newspaper en- 
gaging them. These artists receive from one to 
ten thousand dollars a year, three thousand dol- 
lars being the average salary. Their local 
sketches are used exclusively by the newspaper 
employing them, but many of their cartoons and 



THE SYNDICATE 123 

other work are syndicated by the newspaper, that 
the expense may be divided. 

The syndicate business, including the handling 
of stories, has grown to immense proportions, and 
Is a trade by itself. It offers little opportunity 
to regular reporters, as most of the matter paid 
for is either written by regular staff editors or 
by special-article writers. 

This subject is discussed further in the chap- 
ters entitled " ' Patent Insides ' or Cooperative 
Newspapers " and " News-Distributing Compa- 
nies or Associations." 



CHAPTER XXX 

" Patent-Insides " OR Cooperative News- 
papers 

COMPARATIVELY few newspapers pub- 
lished weekly in the country towns are 
wholly home-set or home-printed. Probably 
seventy-five per cent of them use what are called 
" patent insides," and are known in the trade as 
cooperative newspapers. 

The term " patent insides " is a misnomer, be- 
cause half of the papers have " patent outsides," 
and a patent was never granted to the scheme. 

The cooperative, or so-called " patent insides," 
newspaper is one which is only partially printed 
at the office of publication. The outside pages, 
or the inside pages, are set and printed by the 
cooperative newspaper publisher, and the matter 
on the blank pages is set and printed by the in- 
dividual publisher. 

The cooperative pages contain one or more 
124, 



" PATENT-INSIDES " 125 

stories or articles, miscellany, home hints and 
cooking recipes, humorous stories, and sometimes 
general news of the state or nation. Occasion- 
ally noncompromising and unpolitical editorials 
appear. 

This cooperative matter is intended to be about 
what the local publisher would use if his paper 
were wholly home-set and printed. 

The cooperative newspa^per publisher obtains 
his profit usually from the general advertising, 
which appears on the pages he handles, because 
the price charged the local publisher is not more 
than sufficient to cover the cost of the paper, the 
composition, and the presswork. 

By this scheme, the newspaper publisher is able 
to present his readers with an acceptable paper, 
and at a very much less expense than would be 
possible if the whole of it was home-set and 
-printed ; and thousands of local papers could not 
be published if it was not for this cooperative 
feature. 

The public demands quantity as well as qual- 
ity, and a paper to be profitable must be of fair 
size. 



126 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

The average country newspaper does not re- 
ceive sufficient support to allow it to incur the 
expense of entire home production. 

The cooperative newspaper publisher does not 
always furnish high-grade matter: first, be- 
cause the average reader does not require it; and, 
secondly, because the expense would be prohib- 
itory. 

The cooperative newspaper publishing concern 
has offices in several cities, from which editions 
appropriate to their territories are published. 
It maintains a small editorial staff, but does not 
employ reporters. These editors, who receive sal- 
aries which are about the same as those of editors 
in papers located in cities of from fifty to a hun- 
dred thousand population, devote most of their 
time to clipping and compiling, for the coop- 
erative pages contain comparatively little orig- 
inal matter beyond the running of a syndicate 
story. These editors have served apprentice- 
ship on daily newspapers. 

As the matter they produce has a very general 
circulation, none of it must be political or an- 
tagonistic to the average reader. It must be un- 



" PATENT-INSIDES " 127 

compromising to the extreme. The editorials 
are thoroughly general and adapted to every class 
of reader, that they may not compromise the 
newspapers carrying them. 

The cooperative newspaper publisher employs 
several advertising men or solicitors, who receive 
salaries equal to those paid by the daily news- 
papers. 

This subject is further covered in the chapter 
entitled "Plate Matter." 



CHAPTER XXXI 

Schools of Jouenausm 

THERE have been established, recently, in- 
stitutions which claim to impart a theoret- 
ical or a working knowledge of journalism. 
These schools are in their infancy, and their ef- 
ficiency has not been thoroughly tested. 

While it is obvious that the best newspaper 
school is in the office of the newspaper itself, and 
while comparatively few money-making or prac- 
tical arts can be taught academically, or within 
the walls of a school-room, it is probable that a 
good school of journalism, j)roperly officered and 
with experienced newspaper men as active in- 
structors, may be of much assistance to the 
would-be newspaper man. 

The eyes of the newspaper world are turned 
upon these institutions, and time will demonstrate 
their usefulness, or will prove them to be fail- 
ures. 

12S 



SCHOOLS OF JOURNALISM 129 

I am not advising for or against these institu- 
tions, because they are all in the experimental 
stage, and nobody at the present time can 
correctly diagnose their probable efficiency. 
Whether they succeed or not, it will be several 
years before they will take the place of actual 
experience in newspaper offices. 

There have been established several correspond- 
ence schools of journalism, which claim to be able 
to teach this calling. So long as the efficiency of 
the residential institution remains in doubt, I 
think that I may assume that journalism cannot 
be taught by correspondence, except in a theo- 
retical or automatic way, 

I do not see how it is possible for any corre- 
spondence school to pass, through the mail, ma- 
terial likely to be of much benefit to the pupil in 
journalism. If these schools depend upon mem- 
bership fees for their support, it would seem to 
me to be obvious that they cannot succeed with- 
out a large enrollment, with a small staff of in- 
structors. It would also appear to me to be 
evident that a large number of pupils cannot 
receive much personal attention or working in- 



130 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

formation, if the school is to succeed financially. 

Before joining any correspondence or other 
school of journalism, I would advise the reader to 
obtain the announcements of all of the schools of 
journalism, and to show them, or to send them, 
to several first-class newspaper men. If the ma- 
jority of these trained journalists recommend 
any school, the inquirer may seriously consider 
it; but I would not advise him to follow the 
advice of any one journalist, because he may be 
biased in favor of the school or be connected with 
it. If, however, three or four able newspaper 
men speak weU of it, the inquirer has good rea- 
son to consider it favorably. If the school is 
doing good work, some one outside of its faculty 
knows about it, and some of its graduates are 
engaged in newspaper work. Representative 
editors-in-chief and city editors are in a position 
to judge it fairly. 

I believe that no one can become proficient in 
journalistic work until he has come in contact 
with it, and I am inclined to feel that, for the 
present, at least, one is not likely to obtain a 
working knowledge of journalism, and certainly 



SCHOOLS OF JOURNALISM 131 

not the practice of it, unless he serves in the 
ranks. 

Recently there was established a new school of 
journalism by a large endowment, and I hear that 
this institution proposes to give its pupils op- 
portunity to practice. The school, I understand, 
is to be directly connected with several large 
newspapers, and will not be, therefore, wholly 
academic. In this, as in many other things, I 
repeat what I have said : when in doubt, go slow ; 
when in much doubt, don't. 



CHAPTER XXXII 

The Small Daily Newspaper 

IN the chapter entitled " Country Newspaper 
Opportunities " I have spoken at length of 
the personnel of the seventeen thousand or more 
weekly newspapers published in the country 
towns and villages. In this chapter I will dis- 
cuss the daily newspapers located outside of the 
large commercial centers. 

Many of these newspapers are conducted prac- m 

ticall}^ the same as are the great metropolitan 
dailies, except that they maintain fewer depart- 
ments, or merge several of them into one, and em- 
ploy a lesser number of men upon their staffs. 

Until quite recently, comparatively few towns 
in the East, with populations of less than fifteen 
thousand, supported a local daily newspaper; but 
at the present time practically every Eastern cen- 
ter has one or more dailies ; and some towns, with 






THE SMALL DAILY NEWSPAPER 133 

not exceeding five thousand population, are 
supporting enterprising daily newspapers. 

The reason for the past absence of daily news- 
papers in the Eastern towns was due to three 
conditions : First, the proximity of most of these 
towns to larger cities, whose newspapers covered 
them. Secondly, to the conservatism of the 
East. Thirdly, because until somewhat recently 
the local newspaper had to be largely hand-set, 
as there were no facilities for obtaining a part of 
the news in the form of plates. 

The establishment of plate-making news com- 
panies has reduced the expense of publication, 
and has enabled publishers to maintain profitable 
newspapers at a cost materially less than would 
have been possible a few years ago. 

The small daily newspaper was born in the 
West, many communities of hardly two thousand 
population being sufficiently progressive to en- 
courage its publication. Then, the West is more 
sparsely populated, and the inhabitants of many 
of the towns are unable to obtain a large city 
daily until after the news of the day is stale. 
Western merchants are, undoubtedly, more pro- 



134 THE HANDBOOK OF JdURNALISM 

gressive than are their Eastern brothers, and are 
more liberal advertisers. Even the South, so far 
as journalism is concerned, has outranked the 
East, if we take population into consideration. 

There are scattered throughout the country, 
and particularly in the West and South, a large 
number of daily newspapers, which are a credit 
to the craft, and yet can live, and give satis- 
factory service, with not more than three or four 
editors and reporters combined. These news- 
papers, however, have a large corps of outside 
correspondents. They are able to live and to 
make good, largely because the local merchants 
are progressive and liberal advertisers, and be- 
cause the people of the West and South are willing 
to pay more for their papers than are those in 
the East. 

A daily newspaper in the West and South is 
frequently sold at three, four, or five cents per 
copy, while most of the local small newspapers in 
the East are unable to obtain more than a cent 
a copy. 

The better class of provincial newspapers 
maintains a telegraphic service at an expanse of 



THE SMALL DAILY NEWSPAPER 135 

about a hundred dollars a week, although some of 
them may not pay more than thirty-five or forty 
dollars a week for the news received from the 
association. 

Two good staff reporters can cover many local 
territories, and one or two editors, who may or 
may not be proprietors, are sufficient to do the 
work outside of the actual reporting. 

Many daily newspapers, however, published in 
cities of fifty thousand or more population, are 
conducted upon metropolitan lines ; but, of 
course, they maintain smaller staffs than those 
employed by the great daily newspapers. 

It has been said that if all of the journalists 
in America were to cast their ballots for the most 
perfectly balanced, and most thoroughly jour- 
nalistic newspaper in the country, the majority 
of votes would be given to one published in a 
city of about ninety thousand population, and 
located in the East. This newspaper, which was 
established when its local community, including 
its environs, hardly exceeded fifty thousand pop- 
ulation, has an international reputation, and 
with few exceptions is quoted from more than any 



136 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

other daily newspaper in America. It owns its 
building, and is conducted upon high metropoli- 
tan lines, with a staff of writers exceeding in 
quality most of those of papers published in 
cities of several hundred thousand inhabitants. 
It is considered, by thoughtful and discriminating 
newspaper men, as a genuine daily text-book on 
journalism. 

It is difficult to state the salaries paid to edi- 
tors and reporters working for the smaller news- 
papers, because the majority of editors are pub- 
lishers or proprietors, or are financially interested 
in their papers. Generally speaking, the sal- 
aries paid by these newspapers are twenty-five 
or more per cent less than those of the great 
metropolitan dailies, taking the reporters and 
editors as they run, few of these small dailies 
paying more than three thousand dollars to any 
one connected with them. 

The majority of these smaller newspapers are 
published in the evening, as an evening paper 
can be produced at a much less cost than can one 
issued in the morning. 

The staff of the so-called provincial daily 



THE SMALL DAILY NEWSPAPER 137 

newspaper consists of one editor, who is usually 
proprietor or publisher; and an assistant, who 
writes some of the editorials and acts both as 
general editor and as city editor. Under him 
are two or three reporters and any number of 
outside correspondents. 

I am acquainted with several country daily 
newspapers, which manage to exist and fairly 
well to cover their fields, with regular staffs con- 
sisting of one editor and one reiporter; but, of 
course, they have a large number of paid and 
unpaid outside correspondents. 

Those connected with the smaller dailies have, 
as a rule, much better opportunity to learn jour- 
nalism than do those on the staffs of the 
great metropolitan newspapers. They are given 
larger latitude, and come in closer touch with 
men and things, than do those who are often but 
single wheels in the great metropolitan machine. 

Several of these smaller dailies are exceedingly 
profitable. Many of them own their buildings, 
and maintain job printing plants. They have 
to meet, of course, the competition of the great 
newspapers, for many of the metropolitan jour- 



138 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

nals cover hundreds of miles of territory; but, 
as it is obvious that the great newspaper cannot 
more than indifferently handle local news outside 
of its place of publication, the progressive local 
daily can obtain a constituency preeminently its 
own. 



CHAPTER XXXIII 

Country Newspaper Opportunities 

COMPARATIVELY few country newspapers, 
— newspapers published in country towns 
or villages, and usually weekly, — could exist, or 
make both ends meet, without the maintenance of 
job printing departments. 

The majority of country editors and publishers 
are of necessity, if not from choice, practical 
printers ; although many of them do not stand 
before the case or feed the printing press. 

Unless the newspaper is published in a large 
center, and, consequently, is able to maintain sev- 
eral departments, the publisher attends to, or 
writes, the editorials, and is responsible for 
everything which appears in his paper. 

He may, further, act as superintendent or 

foreman, delegating this work, when absent or 

indisposed, to one of his compositors or pressmen, 

who may not be called the foreman. 
139 



140 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

Thousands of country newspapers, including 
the job offices accompanying them, are handled 
editorially and mechanically by the editor or pub- 
lisher himself, two or three compositors, and a 
boy, known as the printer's devil, one of the com- 
positors acting as foreman. 

Reporters are not employed, except by the 
larger weeklies, the editor obtaining or writing 
all of the matter appearing in his paper, the ma- 
jority of which is sent in, or comes from regular 
or transient correspondents, who are paid only 
a few dollars a week, or work for " glory." 

The editor manages the business, and may even 
keep the books and superintend the job printing 
department. 

With the aid of what is known as the " patent 
inside," and stereotype plates, it is possible for 
four persons to edit, set, and publish a respect- 
able newspaper, and, further, to handle the job 
printing. 

Country newspapers, as a rule, do not solicit 
advertising, the local advertising coming in with- 
out pressure, the general advertising being re- 
ceived from the advertising agents. 



NEWSPAPER OPPORTUNITIES 141 

There would appear to be no reason, however, 
why the country publisher should not make 
strenuous effort to obtain advertising from the 
local merchants, and thereby increase his re- 
ceipts. 

The country editor or publisher obtains his 
income, or makes his living, from three sources: 
First, from the sale of the paper. Its circula- 
tion, however, unless it is located in a large cen- 
ter, is not likely to exceed a thousand copies per 
issue, and many successful newspapers print not 
more than half that number. The subscription 
price seldom exceeds two dollars a year, and is 
usually a dollar paid in advance, or a dollar and 
a half if not so paid. Deducting the losses 
which come from unpaid subscriptions, it is prob- 
able that the circulation of the average country 
newspaper does; not bring in more than eight 
hundred dollars net per year. 

Secondly, from the income which comes from 
the receipts of the advertising. Seventy-five or 
more per cent of this advertising is that of local 
merchants, the balance coming from advertising 
agents, and being of a general character. The 



142 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

advertising receipts run from five hundred to 
even several thousand dollars a year, the average 
not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars, although 
there are quite a number of country newspapers 
receiving annually from three to five thousand 
dollars from advertising. 

Thirdly, from the revenue or profit resulting 
from the job printing department. It is impos- 
sible to average this income, because some country 
printing oflSces are fortunate enough to obtain 
a large amount of local or town printing, and do 
work for concerns in other towns or cities. 

Hundreds of country editors do not enjoy an 
income, or profit, of more than a thousand dollars 
a year, while many of them earn as much as two 
or three, or even five, thousand dollars. 

A country newspaper and printing oflSce can 
be run very economically. Many newspapers 
own their own buildings, or, if they do not, they 
can obtain the whole or part of the building at a 
very low rental, probably less by the year than 
the large city business man pays for a well-lo- 
cated office. 

The compositors work at moderate salaries, 



NEWSPAPER OPPORTUNITIES 143 

and women and boys are frequently employed, or 
they are paid so much per thousand ems, the scale 
being somewhat less than that maintained in the 
cities. 

Job printing, however, with the excerption of the 
setting of straight reading matter, is done by 
those on salaries. 

Many country editors work at the case and 
press, and thereby reduce expenses. 

As most country newspapers are hand-set, and 
as very few of them use the linotype or monotype, 
a sufficient plant can be had for as little as fifteen 
hundred dollars, or from two to three thousand 
dollars with a fairly well-equipped job printing 
outfit. A few country newspapers are set on the 
linotype or monotype, which cost several thou- 
sand dollars, and a typesetting machine is some- 
times used. Many of these typesetters are sold 
on installments, and their use is rapidly increas- 
ing. 

The majority of country editors are graduates 
of the common schools, although some of them 
have passed through college. To succeed, they 
must have a fair English education, and some 



144 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

knowledge of business. Their profit depends 
upon economy, as well as upon progressiveness or 
enterprise. 

Very few country editors and printers fail, 
unless they are located in very small towns, or 
suffer from severe competition, or are extrava- 
gant and attempt to produce a better paper than 
their constituency will support. 

Notwithstanding the small income of the coun- 
try editor, he is better off financially, and other- 
wise, than are ninety-nine per cent of the city 
journalists. If he is a steady worker, and has 
as much as ordinary ability, he is reasonably sure 
of making a living, and he can obtain it without 
night work or overwork. If he is a decent sort 
of a fellow, he will be considered the leading man, 
or one of the leading men, of his community. He 
has not only a local habitation, but a local name 
of consequence. He is often the best-known and 
most respected individual in his town. 

I am of the opinion, and I speak advisedly, be- 
cause I have learned the newspaper business from 
the case to the editorial chair, and from washing 
the roller to the feeding of the press, both in the 



NEWSPAPER OPPORTUNITIES 145 

city and in the country, that the average country 
newspaper man is likely to accumulate more 
money and have an easier time in the getting of 
it, than it is possible for his city brother to ob- 
tain in the fierce competition and turmoil of met- 
ropolitan journalism. 

If the country editor has ability, he stands a 
hundred times better chance of being elected to 
a town, state, or national office, than does the 
city newspaper man. 

He can, at far less effort, become prominent 
both socially and politically. If he knows his 
business, his income is reasonably secure. He 
may be the manager of little, but over that little 
he is supreme. 

Most decidedly would I advise the would-be 
journalist, if he lives in the country, to remain 
in the country. I would even go further, and 
advise nine tenths of city journalists to consider 
the purchase of a country newspaper. 

Any bright and reliable newspaper man, if he 
is not devoid of business instinct, can purchase a 
country newspaper, with a first payment as low 
as a thousand dollars, and even less. If he at- 



146 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

tends to business, he can enjoy an income of from 
a thousand to three thousand dollars a year, and, 
as living in the country is much less expensive 
than maintaining a residence in the city, he is 
likely to live better, and to save more money, than 
would be possible with double the income in a 
large city. 

As there are over twenty thousand country 
newspapers, and as there are many opportunities 
for the establishment of new ones, it is not at all 
difficult to discover an opening. 

Newspaper publishers, like other men, die or 
retire, and their property is for sale. As com- 
paratively few papers are sold for all cash, a 
good reputation and some ability, with little 
money, are sufficient for the procuring of a 
profitable country newspaper. 

The would-be buyer, however, should give pref- 
erence to the paper published in a growing town, 
even though it is not much more than self-sup- 
porting. Prospects, as much as intrinsic present 
values, are of importance. 

If the new owner attends to business, and is 
competent, and will practice economy for a few 



NEWSPAPER OPPORTUNITIES 147 

years, he can liquidate his indebtedness from out 
of the profits of his paper. 

The country editor is the most independent 
man on earth. He is pretty sure of a living in- 
come, and he does not have to overwork, although 
his labors are confining. 

His property, if well managed, is likely to in- 
crease in value, and although he may not accumu- 
late a large sum, or ever enjoy a magnificent 
income, he can, if he will, get all of the necessities 
of life out of his business, and some of the lux- 
uries. 

He may live near his office, or even next door 
to it. He does not have to devote one hour, or 
two hours, of his time every day to traveling be- 
tween his home and the office, as does the city 
newspaper man. He has little or no night work. 
He does not have to be brilliant. If he is steady, 
painstaking, cautious, and economical, and be- 
haves himself, he will get out of life practically 
all that is worth having, will occupy a prominent 
local position, and will live longer than does his 
city brother. 

The average country newspaper editor, al- 



148 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

though his entire property, including his home, 
may not inventory for more than three or four 
thousand dollars, is better off financially than 
are ninety-five per cent of city journalists, and 
I may say ninety per cent of city business men. 

While the country editor or publisher remains 
close to his journalistic grindstone, he does not 
have to keep his nose upon it. His work is con- 
fining, but not strenuous. He has the time, and 
the opportunity, to enter politics, to practice 
philanthropy, to become an educator, and to ob- 
tain fame and an extra income from the writing 
of books and other literature. 

Many an editor of a country newspaper uses 
his paper and printing office as the basis of liveli- 
hood-making, and takes up other work, which he 
could not handle if he were not well-founded in 
country journalism. 

Some of our ablest literary men obtained their 
start in life, their experience, and incentive to do 
things, while occupying the editorial chair in a 
country newspaper sanctum. Many of our most 
prominent men, including statesmen, graduated 
from the country newspaper office, and have never 



NEWSPAPER OPPORTUNITIES 149 

attempted to meet the strenuous competition of 
city journalism or business. 

The principle or policy of beginning at the 
bottom, and of mastering every rung of progres- 
sion's ladder, as one moves upward and onward, 
a.pplies to every vocation, and especially to jour- 
nalism. The majority of our gold-bespangled 
commanders of floating palaces, obtained their 
commands because they learned wind, water, tides, 
bars, reefs, and coast lines, while they were close 
to danger as masters of sailing vessels, and this 
experience enabled them to handle the great steam- 
ship carrying a crew and passenger list equal to 
the population of a town. 

Almost any man with a common school educa- 
tion can edit a country newspaper, but I would 
not advise any one to take up this calling, if he 
does not love the work, for journalism requires 
not only labor, but love of the work at hand, and 
a naturally developed desire to enter this field. 

Country journalism, to one who likes it, offers 
the maximum of comfort at the minimum of anx- 
iety. 

Therefore, I would advise the would-be journal- 



150 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

ist of the country not to fix his ideas permanently 
upon the sky-scraping tower of city journalism to 
the exclusion of health and happiness, which may 
be his if he remains in the country, even though 
his printing press must be turned by hand, and 
his sanctum be in close proximity to the type-case 
and the ink-barrel. 

I would hold the plainly framed picture of life 
in a country newspaper office before the red- 
rimmed eyes and pale and sallow cheeks of those 
struggling city newspaper toilers, who are likely 
forever to live at the base of the monument of 
metropolitan fame, and who may not hope to ar- 
rive nearer than at a gazing distance to the spot 
which they are not likely to reach save in their 
dreams. 



CHAPTER XXXIV 

Manuscript or Copy 

EDITORIAL, news, and other newspaper mat- 
ter should be written upon paper of stand- 
ard size, which measures eight and a half inches 
from right to left by eleven inches from top to 
bottom. This size is not only the most con- 
venient, both for the typewriter and for hand 
work, but it is the most economical, because prac- 
tically all writing paper is made up in sheets 
seventeen by twenty-two inches, a single sheet 
making four sheets of manuscript paper. 

The best stock to use is ordinary bond, which 
can be purchased as low as seven cents per pound. 
Sixteen pound weight is a good thickness. At 
seven cents a pound, five hundred sheets, seven- 
teen by twenty-two inches, can be purchased for 
a dollar and twelve cents, to which should be added 

ten or fifteen cents for cutting. These sheets, 
151 



152 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

when cut up, give two thousand sheets of manu- 
script. 

Bond paper is tough and strong and will not 
easily tear in the typewriter. No other quality 
of paper is as serviceable or as economical in the 
end. Ordinary news paper, however, can be used 
when the matter is to be written in pencil, but 
news paper is pretty sure to be torn in the type- 
writer. 

Light yellow, light orange, light buff, light 
gray, or light blue is to be preferred to white, as 
it is easier for the eyes. 

All newspaper copy should be very widely 
spaced, whether written by pen, pencil, or on the 
typewriter. When written on the typewriter, 
there should be at least two spaces between the 
lines, three are better, and some newspapers pre- 
fer four spaces. Wide spacing facilitates the 
reading of the manuscript, both by the editor and 
by the compositor, and there is room for inter- 
lining and changes. Single spacing should never 
be used. 

The newspaper man should never use the eraser, 
either for the pencil, the pen, or on the typewriter. 



MANUSCRIPT OR COPY 153 

Unless great pains is taken, erasures are difficult 
to make, and require time. The writer should 
draw his pen or pencil through words to be 
omitted, and use x's when writing on the type- 
writer. He should avoid interlining as much as 
possible, as it is better to cross out the words, and 
to begin again, than to confuse the editor and 
compositor with words or sentences written be- 
tween the lines. The appearance of copy counts 
for nothing in the newspaper office, so long as it 
is clear and legible. 

Each page of copy should be numbered with 
figures, which should be placed in the upper 
right-hand corner. If, by accident, a page num- 
ber is omitted, it is not necessary to renumber the 
pages of the manuscript ; write on the page before 
the omitted page, " No page No. 16," for exam- 
ple. If pages are added after the manuscript is 
completed, the pages need not be renumbered. In 
the left-hand corner of the inserted page write the 
number of the page preceding it, and follow 
the figure with " B," and be sure to write " A " 
after the figure on the page preceding it. If you 
do not, and the " B " page falls out, there is noth- 



154 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

ing to show, except the break in the manuscript, 
that a page was added. If more than one page 
is inserted mark the second one with the figure 
followed with " C," etc. At the top of the last 
inserted page, write the words, " Next page 
(page number of the following page)." This 
connects the manuscript, and prevents possibility 
of confusion. 

Unless your copy is very carefully written, it 
is well to place paragraph marks where they are 
needed. Otherwise the compositor may run in 
lines which should be paragraphed. It is also a 
good plan to place a ring or circle around youri 
periods, if your manuscript is hand-written, so 
that they will not be confused with other punc- 
tuation marks. If, after your manuscript is 
written, you desire to capitalize the beginning of 
certain words for which you have used a small 
letter, it is better to mark three lines under the 
letter to be capitalized than to attempt to make 
the small letter a capital by writing the capital 
over it. Capital letters will be set in lower case, 
if you draw a light line through them. A single 
line drawn under a word signifies it is to be set 



1 



1 



MANUSCRIPT OR COPY 155 

in italics. Two lines drawn under a word call 
for small capitals, and three lines stand for cap- 
itals. 

Be very careful with proper names and tech- 
nical terms. If you do not use the typewriter, 
print them in preference to writing them. 



CHAPTER XXXV 

Typewritten Copy 

PRACTICALLY no large newspaper will ac- 
cept a manuscript which is not written upon 
the typewriter. The reporters and editors are 
furnished with typewriting machines, and they 
must either typewrite what they produce, or have 
it done for them. They are given a uniform size 
of sheet, and at least two, and sometimes three or 
four, spaces are required between the lines. 

Typewritten manuscript is demanded, because 
it is more legible, and because of the introduc- 
tion of the linotype, which casts complete lines 
and not individual type. If a manuscript is not 
typewritten and carefully edited, the linotype 
operator will be confused, and too many correc- 
tions will be necessary after the matter is set; 
and these cannot be made economically on the 
linotype. 

156 



TYPEWRITTEN COPY 157 

Local weekly newspapers, however, do not al- 
ways insist upon typewritten copy, although much 
of it is written upon the typewriter. 

Th^ reporter or editor should, then, be able 
to manipulate the typewriter. A proficiency in 
spelling and punctuation is required, which for- 
merly did not appear to be as necessary. 

Of course, any mistakes will be corrected by the 
desk or other editor, but the copy should be clean, 
nevertheless. 

Editors commanding large salaries often dic- 
tate their copy to a stenographer, who writes it 
out on the typewriter; but the majority of edi- 
tors and reporters are required to do their own 
typewriting, and many of them are not able to 
dictate. 



CHAPTER XXXVI 

About Type 

UNTIL 1452, when Gutenberg of Germany 
invented the movable metallic type, and the 
method of casting it, the few books published 
were either hand-written or crudely printed from 
engravings cut on wood. 

Gutenberg earned the right to be considered 
one of the great forefathers of progress. With- 
out his invention civilization would not have had 
a proper vehicle of progress. 

Type and the printing press are responsible 
for the Art Creative of All Art. 

Without printing the nations would have con- 
tinued in isolation, and have been without means 
of intercommunication; and scholars would have 
been without opportunity to distribute their learn- 
ing. 

The product of the printing press has done 
158 



ABOUT TYPE 159 

more for civilization than has anything else de- 
vised or produced by men. 

However, enough of history. While what we 
are is not disconnected from what we were, mod- 
ern life, anchored though it may be to the past, 
draws its nourishment from the present, and 
reckons its longevity by the prospects of the fu- 
ture. 

Metallic type is automatically cast from a ma- 
trix, and in separate letters. A piece of type con- 
sists of a shank or base at one end of which is 
cast solid with it the face of the letter. 

Ordinary Roman or body type is distributed 
into two cases, one known as the upper case, con- 
taining principally ca,pitals and small capitals; 
and the lower case, which carries the small let- 
ters and the figures. In one case, room is left 
for spaces, which are placed between the words. 
These cases are placed upon a rack, the lower 
case being nearer the compositor and upon a 
slant, the upper case being back of the lower 
case, and tipped at a greater angle. The ar- 
rangement of the cases gives the terms, " lower 
case " and " upper case," which are commonly 



160 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

used in newspaper and printing offices to desig- 
nate small letters and capitals. 

The type is set in what is known as a composing 
stick, or " stick," which the compositor holds in 
his left hand. He sets one letter at a time, from 
left to right and up-side-down. When the stick 
is full the type is dumped into what is known as 
the " live galley," and from there is locked up 
into a steel chase or frame, which is placed in the 
printing press. 

Compositors or typesetters of regular straight 
body or reading matter usually work by the piece ; 
that is, they are paid from twenty-five to sixty 
cents per thousand ems, irrespective of the size 
of the type set, provided it is not larger than 12 
Point (Pica). 

The em represents the width of the lower case 
" m," which is set upon a shank having the same 
width as depth. There is no larger shank than 
that of the em (m), and many of the letters oc- 
cupy much less space, like i, t, or j. Therefore, 
the space of a thousand ems would probably re- 
quire the handling of from fifteen hundred to 



ABOUT TYPE 161 

two thousand separate pieces of type, or type 
and spaces. 

After the type is set and placed in the galley, 
it is measured by a type rule from left to right 
and from top to bottom. For example: if the 
type column width is, say, thirteen ems, and the 
depth one hundred lines, it would represent thir- 
teen hundred ems. 

Metallic or cast type, which is composed 
largely of lead, is divided, for convenience, into 
the following sizes : 
3 J Point (Brilliant). 
4i^ Point (Diamond). 

5 Point (Pearl). 
5i Point (Agate). 

14 lines to the inch when set solid. 

6 Point (Nonpareil). 

12 lines to the inch when set solid. 

7 Point (Minion). 

Twice the size of SJ Point. 

8 Point (Brevier). 

9 Point (Bourgeois). 

Twice the size of 4^ Point. 



162 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

10 Point (Long Primer). 

Twice the size of 5 Point. 

11 Point (Small Pica). 

Twice the size of 5^ Point. 

12 Point (Pica). 

Twice the size of 6 Point. Six lines to the 
inch when set solid. 
14 Point (English). 

Twice the size of 7 Point. 
16 Point (2-Line Brevier). 

Twice the size of 8 Point. 
18 Point (Great Primer or 3-Line Nonpareil). 

Twice the size of 9 Point. 
20 Point (Paragon or 2-Line Long Primer). 

Twice the size of 10 Point. 
22 Point (Double Small Pica). 

Twice the size of 11 Point. 
24 Point (Double Pica). 

Twice the size of 12 Point. 
28 Point (2-Line English). 

Twice the size of 14 Point. 
30 Point (5-Line Nonpareil). 

Five times the size of 6 Point. 



ABOUT TYPE 163 

S2 Point. 

36 Point (Double Great Primer or 6-Line Non- 
pareil). 

40 Point (Double Paragon or 4-Line Long 
Primer). 

42 Point (7-Line Nonpareil). 

44 Point (Canon or 4-Line Small Pica). 

48 Point (4-Line Pica). 

54 Point. 

60 Point (5-Line Pica). 

7a Point (6-Line Pica). 

Six times the size of 12 Point. One line 
makes an inch. 

Comparatively little metal type is made larger 
than 72 Point, and most type above this size is 
cut in wood, and is designated as 2-Line, etc., 
larger sizes being made to order. Some foun- 
dries, however, cast a few sizes above 72 Point. 

The following paragraphs present the common 
sizes of regular Roman faces, and give an eye- 
picture of the relative proportion of type sizes. 
I have intentionally omitted 3% Point, 4% Point, 



164 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

and 5 Point, as the two former are seldom used, 
and the latter appears infrequently even in foot- 
notes. Few printers or newspapers carry type 
smaller than 5% Point. 

This paragraph is set in 5^^ Point (Agate), the size almost 
universally used for the setting- of " want," or other classified 
advertisements, in the daily newspapers, but it is seldom used 
for reading matter, except in closely printed books like small 
Bibles. The advertising space in the large newspapers, and in 
most of the magazines, is reckoned upon a basis of Agate meas- 
urement; that is, the number of lines of Agate, set solid, which 
will go into a single column space, irrespective of the size of 
display type contained in the advertisement. Fourteen Agate 
lines, set solid, make one inch. When the advertiser orders one 
inch of advertising space, he is entitled to as many words, if 
set in Agate, as can appear in fourteen lines of Agate, set solid. 
Although he may use any size of type which will fit the space, 
he pays a specified price per Agate line. For example: if the 
advertisement occupies one inch, and the rate is ten cents per 
line, the space costs one dollar and forty cents. 



This' paragraph is set in 6 Point (Nonpareil), the size of 
letter almost universally used for the news and other reading 
matter in the daily newspapers, and the smallest size appear- 
ing in books, except in the very few which are closely printed. 
It is frequently used for foot and marginal notes and for 
quotations, and it may appear in dictionaries and directories. 
Some country newspapers reckon their advertising on a basis 
of Nonpareil, which requires twelve lines to give the depth 
of an inch when set solid. 



This paragraph is set in 7 Point (Minion), a size of type 
quite generally used for reading matter in high-class weeklies 
and in many small dailies. It often appears in books, and is 
very readable, provided the column or page is not more than 
three inches wide. It is an excellent size for footnotes and 
for quotations, and is much used in job work. 



This paragraph is set in 8 Point (Brevier). The major- 
ity of country newspapers set their reading matter in this 
size of type, and it appears in quite a number of books, 
especially those of paper covers. It is a very readable size, 
and is adapted to every class of reading matter, but the 
width of the lines should not exceed three and a half 
inches. Some of the magazines are set in Brevier. 



ABOUT TYPE 165 

This paragraph is set in 9 Point (Bourgeois), which 
is occasionally used for the reading matter of country 
newspapers, and for magazines and class publications. 
It sometimes appears in circulars and catalogues, and 
is readable under all conditions, if the width of the 
lines is not greater than four inches. 

This paragraph is set in 10 Point (Long Primer), 
a size that is very " filling," and is used largely by 
magazines, and other publications which are not 
newspapers. It is seen in a good grade of books, 
and is an excellent size for catalogues and circu- 
lars. It is the smallest face that should appear in 
a flyer or handbill, and then it should be used only 
for secondary matter. It is adaptable to the de- 
scriptive part of advertisements. 

This paragraph is set in 11 Point (Small Pica), 
which is an acceptable size for high-grade books, 
for art magazines, and for college and society 
papers. It is adapted to circulars and artistic 
catalogues, and for the descriptive matter in large 
advertisements. It will fit into any width of line 
from two inches to even six inches. 

This paragraph is set in 12 Point (Pica), 
which is decidedly a good size to use for the 
best grade of books, for those of more than or- 
dinary size, and for high-art publications. It 
is admirably adapted to descriptive matter in 
large advertisements, and to all work which 
does not need to be condensed. It is too large 



166 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

to fit into a newspaper column and adapts itself 
readily to any column or page width not less 
than three inches, nor more than eight inches. 

This paragraph is set in 14 Point 
(English), which is a very appro- 
priate size for descriptive matter in 
handbills, and may be used to advan- 
tage in large advertisements. Few books 
are set in type larger than this, and even 
this size seldom appears, comparatively 
few books being set in type larger than 
12 Point. This size, however, is appro- 
priate for books for children. 

The larger sizes of type are never used for read- 
ing matter, except in advertisements, and it is 
not necessary to present them here. 

The unabridged specimen book of type contains 
exceeding fifty thousand different faces and sizes. 
Type faces, semitechnically speaking, are divided 
into three great classifications: 

First, Roman type, which is used exclusively 
for the reading matter in newspapers, periodicals, 
and books, except in the very few which are pub- 
lished, edited, or written by typographical cranks, 



ABOUT TYPE 167 

who have not sense enough to realize that the 
reading matter is to be read, and, therefore, must 
be set to be read. 

Roman or body type is of two principal kinds : 
First, what is known as " Old Style," which has 
a face with the lines in each letter of practically 
the same width and with no shading. The face is 
light and thin, compared with the so-called Mod- 
ern Roman. 

Old Style type appears in most books, and in 
many periodicals, but seldom is seen in the news- 
paper. The thinness of its lines makes it less 
durable than the Modern face. Old Style type 
should never be used where figures appear fre- 
quently, because Old Style figures are not dis- 
tinct, the lower line of the " 9," for example, go- 
ing below the line of type, and the " 9," therefore, 
looking like an " o " if the tail of it becomes dam- 
aged or is indistinctly printed. 

The face of Modern Roman is similar to that 
of Old Style Roman, except that the lines of each 
letter are not of the same width and some of them 
are shaded. It is used almost universally by news- 
papers, for it is, untechnically speaking, a " hard- 



168 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

ier " face and will stand more wear. It is no more 
legible than is Old Style, but as it is as easy to 
read, some publishers prefer it and use it for book 
work. 

Modern Roman figures are distinct and no part 
of them falls below the regular type line. 

Old Style Roman is, as a rule, less compact than 
is the Modern face; that is to say, from five to 
twenty per cent, more words may appear within a 
given space if set in Modern, than could be used 
in the same space if set in an Old Style face. 

Besides Old Style and Modern Roman faces, 
there are a number of faces resembling them, and 
yet having a slightly different appearance. Many 
of them are as readable, but some of them tire or 
confuse the eye. 

They are given arbitrary names, like Century, 
Clearface, Scotch Roman, etc. 

An italic or sloping face accompanies every 
size and style of Roman type. 

Secondly: Full Face type may be likened to 
Roman type of heavier face, resembling Roman in 
general style, but made with heavier lines. The 
different faces bear arbitrary names, like DeVinne, 



ABOUT TYPE 169 

Howland, Roycroft, Plymouth, etc., including 
hundreds of styles of Gothic. 

A Gothic face is geometrical, ,practically all of 
the lines being of the same width. It has been 
called a block letter. It is very distinct, and is 
much used for newspaper headings. 

The majority of display faces are made in 
three styles: one being known, say, as DeVinne, 
the accompanying faces being called DeVinne Con- 
densed and DeVinne Expanded or Extended. The 
condensed face is similar to the regular face, but 
more condensed from right to left, and the ex- 
panded face has a greater length from right to 
left. 

Thirdly: Ornamental type. There are thou- 
sands of ornamental faces, most of which are 
known by arbitrary names, the Old English Text 
being included. They never appear in newspa- 
pers, except occasionally in the advertising, and 
should not be permitted in books. They are used 
for commercial printing, for invitations, and for 
many other purposes. They are unfitted for 
reading matter. 

Practically all type, including Roman body 



170 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

type, is made in series, running from 5^/2 ^^ 6 
Point to even 12 Point, but comparatively few 
faces are cast in more than six or eight sizes. 

The use of type in series gives a greater ar- 
tistic appearance to the work, as the different sizes 
harmonize. 

The reading matter in the newspapers is set 
solid, but most book pages are set with spaces 
between the lines, and are technically known as 
leaded. Leads are strips of lead of various thick- 
nesses, and are reckoned on a Pica basis. If six 
leads placed together would give a depth of a 
Pica type, they are known as '' 6-to-Pica." So 
far as I know, no leads are made finer than " 10-to- 
Pica." When the lead is more than " 3-to-Pica," 
it is usually known as a " slug." 

The majority of books are leaded with ** 6-to- 
Pica " leads, but some of them have greater 
spaces between the lines. 

The number of words contained in a given space 
is dependent, not only upon the size of that space, 
but upon the size of the type used, and also upon 
whether or not it is set solid or leaded. To ascer- 
tain the number of words, which will appear in any 



ABOUT TYPE 171 

given space, the writer should count the words 
on a printed column or page representing the 
typography which will be used. He need not 
count the words in more than a few lines to strike 
an average. 

(See chapter entitled, " Typesetting Machines, 
— The Linotype and Monotype.") 



CHAPTER XXXVII 

Typesetting Machines, — The Linotype 
AND Monotype 

EVERY large daily newspaper, and many 
books and pamphlets, are not hand-set, but 
are set by the linotype, monotype, or typesetting 
machine. 

The linotype, commonly used in newspaper of- 
fices, and costing three thousand dollars and up- 
wards, casts a complete line of type. The opera- 
tor sits before a keyboard resembling that of a 
typewriter. When he presses a key, a brass ma- 
trix drops into a receiver, and, when sufficient 
matrices have been set, the operator presses a 
lever, and this line of matrices is automatically 
cast into a line of letters. The other lines are 
set and cast in the same way. The matrices are 
automatically distributed to be set again. A 
single operator can set four thousand ems per 

hour of regular reading matter. 

172 



THE LINOTYPE AND MONOTYPE 173 

This is exceeded, but four thousand is a good 
average. As the " em " is the largest letter, one 
thousand " ems " (the technical term used) would 
require the setting of fifteen hundred or more 
letters and spaces. 

The first-class hand-compositor sets eight hun- 
dred ems an hour, and the record speed is about 
two thousand. 

The great newspaper maintains batteries of a 
dozen linotypes, or two or three times that num- 
ber. All of the reading matter is set on the lino- 
type, and many of the headings, some linotypes 
having faces as large as 72 Point, but few of the 
machines carry those larger than 60 Point. 

Many linotypes are made with several maga- 
zines, each holding a set of matrices, so that many 
faces and sizes may be set by the same machine. 

Many books are set on the linotype, as the work 
of this machine is satisfactory if the book is not 
to be printed upon coated or hard paper. 

The lead used in the linotype is melted over 
again, with only a slight waste. 

The monotype is similar, and yet different, 
from the linotype. The operator sits in front of 



174 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

a keyboard, and each key when pressed makes an 
impression on a roll of paper similar to that used 
for the automatic piano-player. This roll is 
placed in another machine, which automatically 
casts and sets single type. The speed of the 
monotype is about that of the linotype. The 
monotype is admirably adapted to book work, 
partly because its work is as easily corrected as 
is that of hand-set type, while a correction made 
on the linotype requires the resetting and recast- 
ing of an entire line. 

Many newspapers are set on the monotype ex- 
clusively, and other newspapers employ both the 
linotype and monotype. 

Comparatively few books nowadays are hand- 
set, either the monotype or linotype being used. 
Notwithstanding this, the sale of ordinary type is 
on the increase, neither of these automatic setting 
machines seeming to interfere with its output. 

Most of the country newspapers are printed 
directly from hand-set type, but the larger ones 
are set on the linotype or monotype, without the 
forms being stereotyped. 

Several country newspapers use typesetting 



THE LINOTYPE AND MONOTYPE 175 

machines, which set regular type, and do not cast 
either single letters or lines. 

Nothing in this cha^pter must be construed as 
making an unfavorable comparison between either 
the monotype, the linotype, or hand-set type, for 
each process has its individual use and advantages ; 
but type is no longer hand-set in the offices of the 
leading newspapers, and the linotype and mono- 
type are now being used very extensively by book 
and magazine publishers. Hand-set type, how- 
ever, maintains its supremacy in quality of result, 
but machine-set and -made type answers the pur- 
pose in many cases. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII 

The Printing Press 

PRESSES used for printing, other than for 
engraving, are of three kinds: First, the 
ordinary job press, which is turned either by foot 
or power, and is used for the printing of cards, 
circulars, and other small matter. It is fed by 
hand. Secondly, the cylinder press, usually 
operated by power, but occasionally by hand. 
It is used for the printing of books, catalogues, 
pamphlets, and for newspapers other than those 
having large circulations. It is hand-fed. 
Thirdly, the perfecting press. This press is a 
modern invention, and is used exclusively by large 
newspapers, and also for the printing of maga- 
zines and books, but the majority of books are 
printed upon the cylinder press, because it will 
do better work. Type forms are not used in the 

perfecting press, the matter being stereotyped in 
1T6 



THE PRINTING PRESS 177 

the form of cylinders, which roll against other 
cylinders, a continuous roll of paper circulating 
between. The paper is automatically cut just as 
it leaves the press, and is frequently folded. 

The job printing press, which is hand- fed, has 
a speed from one thousand to two thousand an 
hour. So far as I know, no hand-feeder can 
exceed the latter figure, and the average speed is 
about twelve hundred an hour for ordinary work. 

Cylinder presses, which are always hand-fed, 
have a speed running from a thousand to two 
thousand an hour, the average speed not exceed- 
ing fifteen hundred. 

The cylinder press delivers its product on to 
a table. The work of the job press has to be not 
only fed into the press, but taken from the press 
by hand. 

The largest perfecting press will print three 
hundred thousand eight-page papers an hour, and 
will deliver them counted and folded, but this 
press is not usually speeded to more than two hun- 
dred and fifty thousand an hour. 

The average perfecting press turns out about 
seventy-two thousand twelve-page papers an hour, 



178 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

delivering them and counting them. Other per- 
fecting presses, — those used for books, — deliver 
from twenty-five to fifty thousand sheets an hour, 
printed upon both sides. 

The old Franklin press is still used in a few 
newspaper ofiices. In construction it resembles 
the ordinary press used for copying letters in 
letter books. The type-form is hand inked, and 
the power is supplied by hand. Two operators 
can print from three to four hundred papers (one 
side) per hour. 

The majority of country newspapers are 
printed upon cylinder presses. 



CHAPTER XXXIX 

The Publishing or Business Depart- 
ment OF A Newspaper 

ALTHOUGH this book is primarily addressed 
to those who are, or who intend to be, jour- 
nalists or newspaper writers, and who are more in- 
terested in the reportorial and editorial side of the 
newspaper than in the business department of it, 
it is well, I think, to refer at some length to the 
commercial or business departments of newspaper 
making. 

The newspaper, although it is one of civiliza- 
tion's greatest agents, and, perhaps, may be con- 
sidered the leading vehicle of progress, cannot 
exist for the present without much consideration 
being given to those matters which are responsible 
for its financial support, unless it be endowed. 
It is probable, however, that before many years a 

few, and, perhaps, several newspapers will be 

179 



180 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

wholly or partially supported by endowment, and 
will not be obliged to depend upon their incomes. 
1'he endowed newspaper, however, still remains a 
dream of the future. If it should be endowed by 
one man, it is quite likely that it would not be 
much of an improvement upon those run under 
present commercial conditions, because the en- 
dower might be as unfair, and as un journalistic, 
as are some of the present financial owners, and 
the result be a paper more biased and less reliable 
than are those which are under the whip of com- 
mercialism. As the newspaper cannot be run with- 
out money, and as it cannot obtain the necessary 
income unless it gives attention to its financial 
side, it is obvious that the moneyed owner of it 
will continue to be responsible for its policy and to 
control its editorial and reportorial departments. 
However, to the credit of many of our great 
newspaper men may it be said that the great ma- 
jority of them are as fair, as broad-minded, and 
as patriotic as conditions permit, and that many 
of them are doing what, perhaps, half of the 
reformers would do, if they exchanged places. 
Conditions, more tjian individuals, are at fault. 



THE BUSINESS DEPARTMENT 181 

The reader, as much as the editor, needs reforma- 
tion. When there are enough readers to support 
an ideal newspaper there will be found plenty of 
men to edit it. The illegitimate newspaper is the 
result of popular demand. So long as the public 
wants a thing, good or bad, there will be men 
good or bad enough to supply it. 

The modern newspaper is, because it has to be, 
a commercial enterprise, as much so as the making 
and selling of clothing or the raising and distri- 
bution of gi'ain. 

The newspaper obtains its income from two 
sources: First, from what is received from its 
circulation. While the money taken in for the 
papers sold may be considerable, it is prob- 
able that there are not more than one or two news- 
papers in America, or in the world, for that mat- 
ter, which could live upon what is received from 
their circulation. The cost of the white paper 
used by many newspapers is as much as, or more 
than, what is received from the sale of them. 
This being the case, the newspaper must obtain 
from its advertisers money sufficient to pay for its 
mechanical production, including even part of the 



182 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

cost of the white paper, and, further, the heavy 
expense of maintaining editorial writers and re- 
porters, and the cost of telegraphic and other 
news. 

Therefore, thousands of newspapers are un- 
able to be as independent as their editors and 
owners desire, and are forced to maintain policies, 
and to run or omit news and other matter, which 
would not appear or would appear, if it were not 
necessary to maintain a circulation sufficiently 
large for the carrying of profitable advertising. 

The great newspaper receives thousands of dol- 
lars every day from its advertisers. One news- 
paper, in New York, obtains about twelve hundred 
dollars per page per day for advertising, and 
several newspapers receive as much as five hun- 
dred or more dollars for the insertion of a single 
page of advertising in one issue. 

Conditions, then, require a business manage- 
ment of the highest order, — the same quality of 
business-bringing ability as is necessary for the 
profitable maintenance of otlier large corpora- 
tions or business institutions. 

The great newspaper is usually owned by a 



THE BUSINESS DEPARTMENT 183 

stock company, the directors of which frame its 
policy, and, indirectly through the officials ap- 
pointed, manage every department, especially that 
of the business. 

The principal official is the publisher, who may 
or may not be a large stockholder, but who fre- 
quently owns more than half, or controls more 
than half, of the stock. He is, by virtue of own- 
ership, in direct command of every department 
and official, including the editor-in-chief. 

If the publisher is not the owner he will receive 
a salary higher than that paid to any one else 
connected with the paper, often as much as ten 
or even twenty-five thousand dollars a year. 

Under the publisher are several business depart- 
ments, each officered by a department head. 

The office of business manager is maintained, 
unless the owner occupies that position himself. 
The business manager is the executive officer, and 
is responsible only to the publisher or owner. 

Next in importance comes the advertising de- 
partment, which is under a competent advertising 
man, who may do some soliciting besides mana- 
ging the advertising men or solicitors. He is paid 



184 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

from three to fifteen thousand dollars a year. It 
is his duty to see that the pa^er carries a profit- 
able amount of advertising, most of which is 
obtained by direct solicitation, although the news- 
paper advertises its advertising as a commodity. 
Advertising solicitors receive from a thousand to 
five thousand dollars a year, and probably a few 
of them draw salaries of ten thousand dollars and 
upwards annually. Some of these advertising 
men devote their energy to local advertisers, while 
others travel all over the country. 

A large proportion of the great newspapers 
obtain their so-called foreign or outside adver- 
tising from what are known as special agents, — 
concerns located in the larger cities, which em- 
ploy advertising men who solicit advertising for 
a number of newspapers. These special agents 
work on salary or commission. If on salary, they 
receive from a thousand to even five thousand dol- 
lars a year from each newspaper on their list. 

The publishing or business management of the 
newspaper requires business ability of the same 
order as that which makes any other business 
profitable, but the newspaper manager is likely 



THE BUSINESS DEPARTMENT 185 

to be more proficient, if he has had newspaper 
experience as well as that of general business ; be- 
cause, while the work is business pure and simple, 
an intimate knowledge of newspaper conditions 
is essential to superlative success. This same 
condition applies to advertising solicitors: first, 
they must be good salesmen ; secondly, they must 
understand newspaper requirements, for while the 
soliciting of advertising is not removed from that 
of ordinary business, it requires, as a rule, a little 
different caliber of man than it does to sell what 
are usually considered commodities. 

The press and composing rooms of the news- 
paper are under the direction of the superintend- 
ent or foreman, who receives from a thousand to 
two or three thousand dollars a j^ear. He must 
be a good executive and possess mechanical abil- 
ity; but knowledge of business is not necessary. 

The circulation department is one of consid- 
erable importance, and is under the direction of a 
head who receives from three to several thousand 
dollars a year. He is virtually the seller of the 
newspaper, and must be in close touch with the 
business, editorial, and reportorial departments. 



186 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

He, as well as the editors and reporters, keeps his 
finger upon the public pulse. He occupies, to 
some extent, a position similar to that of the di- 
recting editor. 

The newspaper is unlike many other enter- 
prises, because its publication requires the main- 
tenance of manufacturing, business, and editorial 
departments, each separated from the others, but 
all working together in profitable harmony. 

As a rule, first-class editorial writers and re- 
porters are unfitted to occupy positions in the 
business department, but occasionally there are 
found men who are both editorial writers and 
business managers. These men devote most of 
their time either to the business management or 
to the editorial side, because no one man can do 
two things equally well. 

While the editor and reporter need not be 
familiar with the business side of publishing a 
newspaper, the publisher or business manager 
should not be ignorant of editorial writing and 
news-gathering, although he need not be skilled at 
either. He should, to some extent, be a com- 
posite man, who knows how to sell what is pro- 



^ 



THE BUSINESS DEPARTMENT 187 

duced, and understands, to some extent, the 
process of making the goods which he sells. 

The publishing or business management of the 
smaller papers is similar to that of the larger 
ones, except that there are fewer men in com- 
mand and a lesser number of departments main- 
tained; but all periodicals, including newspapers, 
find it necessary to maintain advertising solicitors, 
except the weekly newspapers. In many cases the 
publisher, editor, or owner attends to the business 
as well as assumes the responsibility for the edi- 
torials and news. 



CHAPTER XL 

No Change in Sight 

BY way of introduction to what I am about 
to write, may I not j>resent a concrete case 
or example? 

A young friend of mine is, perhaps, the most 
brilliant and efficient reporter connected with the 
press of a large city. He began at the bottom, 
his ability has been recognized, and he handles 
what are known as " leaders " or " first-page " 
articles. His command of English is remarkable, 
and he possesses the unusual capacity of being 
able to present facts in the most charming and 
readable style. He is not a sensationalist. He 
has considerable literary ability, and has already 
written one book of unquestionable merit. 

He is an ideal reporter, possessing all of the 

qualifications necessary for superlative success 

in this direction. He is connected with a paper 

188 



NO CHANGE IN SIGHT 189 

which is extremely profitable, and he is at the head 
of the reportorial staff. This paper has the 
largest circulation in its territory, much of which 
is undoubtedly due to its efficiency in handling 
important local news. 

As this young man is responsible for the best 
local news appearing in the paper, and for the 
kind which is most acceptable to its readers, it 
may be assumed that to him should be given much 
of the credit for making his newspaper so popu- 
lar. Yet, with all of this ability, he receives a 
merely nominal salary, not half what is paid to 
the efficient broker's clerk or to those connected 
with the business or editorial departments below 
those of the manager and head editor. 

I am not depreciating the money-making and 
business-bringing ability of those who manage 
the newspaper. I am well aware that manage- 
ment has, in many cases, more to do with success 
than has the work of those who, under the man- 
agement, produce the material of success-making. 
So long as commercialism controls most of our 
enterprises, the man who knows how to handle 
men and affairs, to play them as he would chess 



190 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

upon a chessboard, will receive the far greater 
emolument for his services. 

Notwithstanding this condition, it seems to me 
that the profits are unevenly and unfairly di- 
vided. 

While I would not suggest that this reporter, 
or that any other man correspondingly responsi- 
ble for the success of the newspaper, receive a 
financial return equal to those who manage it, I 
greatly deplore present conditions, which may be 
necessary, and which give so little in money to 
those without whom the best business management 
would be worthless. 

I do not propose here, or anywhere else, in this 
book, to discuss capital and labor, notwithstand- 
ing the terrible abuses practiced by capital, and 
the unreasonableness of some labor leaders and 
of many laboring men. There is fault on both 
sides ; but the sympathy of the nation is, un- 
doubtedly, discriminating in favor of the work- 
men, whether he uses pen or spade, who does not, 
as he runs, receive what equity entitles him to. 

It may be said, in extenuation, that it is easy 
to obtain men of the caliber of my friend, the 



NO CHANGE IN SIGHT 191 

reporter, and that it is difficult to find first-class 
business men and managers. As a matter of 
fact, the market appears to be flooded with ej0S- 
cient managers, as well as with proficient report- 
ers and editors, and others who do the actual 
work. Comparatively few men cannot be replaced. 

It is obvious that the withdrawal of this re- 
porter from his newspaper would not materially 
effect its circulation, even if a man of half his 
ability should take his place. It is also as evi- 
dent that the paper would probably succeed if 
any one of its managers should resign. 

The indispensable man seldom exists, and I am 
inclined to feel that he never has existed, and never 
wiU. 

I do not know how to remedy this condition, 
except by the up-building of public character and 
integrity, and by instilling into the public mind 
a better sense of proportion. 

The process is a long one, and, therefore, does 
not appeal to the average reformer, who would 
change the world into his way of running by the 
introduction of some one reform or of something 
which appears to take immediate effect. We are 



192 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

still in an uncivilized state, notwithstanding our 
boasted culture, education, and refinement. Wti 
have not yet learned to handle human affairs a§ 
the progressive physician treats a pimple. He, 
instead of applying a salve to the surface of the 
pimple, and thereby driving it back into the sys- 
tem, cleanses the system of pimple-making virus. 

I mention this incident that I may be fair with 
the would-be newspaper writer, and present to him 
the shadows, as well as the lights of journalism. 
Unless he possesses unusual business ability, or is 
extremely proficient in editorial or managerial 
work, he cannot hope to obtain more than a mod- 
erate income, even though what he does is as 
necessary to the success of the paper as are the 
qualities possessed and exercised by those at the 
head. He must accept conditions as they are, 
and the best he can do is to help the present gen- 
eration to make it easier for the coming generation 
to remedy inconsistencies and evils. 

I do not propose to analyze those peculiar qual- 
ities which go to make commercial success, as com- 
pared with those which produce the actual work, 
without which money could not be made or any 



NO CHANGE IN SIGHT 193 

kind of a result be obtained. Some men possess 
commercial instinct and ability, while others seem 
to be entirely devoid of them. On the other hand, 
thousands of our best writers, who produce the 
printed words which cannot die, appear to have 
absolutely no grasp upon business affairs, and 
would starve to death if it were not for their com- 
mercial agents, who market their products. 

In this age of commercialism, men and things 
are purchased on the market under an unfair, 
cruel, and even criminal law, which governs mar- 
ket prices, and the supply and demand. 

So long as men like my friend, the reporter, 
will work at moderate salaries, and so long as 
other men of ability can be easily obtained to take 
their places, and so long as custom will reward 
the manager more than he deserves in comparison, 
the would-be journalist must expect this handicap 
and govern himself accordingly. 

Commercialism, — and everything we do in the 
way of money-making is adulterated with it, — 
holds the trump card in the game of modern life. 

Wait! Right will rightly have the right of 
way, eventually, if not now. 



CHAPTER XLI 

The Taking of Advice 

WHILE much of free advice is worth just 
what is paid for it, — nothing, — the ad- 
vice of competent persons should not be despised. 

The man who depends upon himself, and who is 
unwilling to take counsel with others, never gets 
anywhere, and does not deserve to. 

Advice, however, like all other good things, 
should not be taken without the use of discretion, 
for much of it is unintentionally biased. 

The perfectly balanced person does not exist. 
All of us, even those who make strenuous effort to 
render fair judgment, are unconsciously influ- 
enced, and our opinion, although conscientiously 
expressed, may, because of environment and con- 
ditions, be altogether one-sided, and frequently 
may be unsafe. 

Therefore, I say, do not accept unqualifiedly 
the advice of any one person, no matter how ex- 
pert or competent he may be. Unless others, 

194 



THE TAKING OF ADVICE 195 

equally proficient, agree with him, it is usually 
unsafe to follow his advice indiscriminately. 

The successful journalist, and particularly one 
who has not passed through all of the hardships 
of his calling, naturally sees j ournalism through a 
rose-colored glass, and is likely to be altogether 
too optimistic. 

On the other hand, one who has met with con- 
stant disaster, due to his own fault or to circum- 
stances, is likely to be pessimistic and to condemn 
emphatically this vocation as a whole. 

Notwithstanding this diversity of opinion, and 
the fact that advice is not infallible, no one should 
enter journalism, or any other calling, without 
conversing with those who have both succeeded 
and failed in it. 

The would-be newspaper man should obtain a 
general prospect of the situation by coming in 
contact with both classes of journalists, — those 
who are successes and those who are failures. 

From the mass of advice he may obtain, if he 
be intelligent, a fairly correct insight into what 
will be likely to occur to him if he enters this call- 
ing. 



CHAPTER XLII 

Technical or Newspaper Terms 

THE following condensed dictionary of tech- 
nical terms, used by newspaper men and 
printers, may be of benefit to the reader. I have 
presented only those in common use. 



Ad. or A dv.=r Advertisement. 

Advertising agent. = A jobber 
in advertising; one who 
purchases advertising in 
the newspapers and maga- 
zines and sells it to adver- 
tisers, his remuneration 
coming from commissions. 

Agate.— 51/2 Point type. The 
size of type used for set- 
ting the " want " or clas- 
sified advertisements in 
daily newspapers, and the 
standard of advertising 
space measure. Fourteen 
lines set solid make the 
depth of an inch. 

Antique. = The face of type 
much used in advertising, 
and differing from Roman 
in that it is a little heav- 
ier and has the cross or 
ending strokes slightly 
prominent. 

Ascending letters. = Letters 
reaching upwards, as b, d, 
f, h, k, etc. 

Author's corrections. = The 
corrections or changes 
made by the author in 
proofs. If there are many 



196 



of them, they are usually 
made at the expense of the 
author, at from fifty to 
eighty cents per hour for 
the time of the composi- 
tor. Newspapers' do not 
charge for author's correc- 
tions. 

Author's proof.=:The proof, 
accompanied by a manu- 
script, sent to the writer. 
Proofs with corrections 
marked upon them and ac- 
companied by the original 
manuscript may be mailed 
at the rate of two ounces 
for a cent. 

Bad copy. = Manuscript not 
easily read, and hard to 
set. 

Bimonthly. =:A publication is- 
sued every two months. 

Biweekly.=A publication is- 
sued every two weeks'. 

Body type. = The face of type 
used for the reading mat- 
ter in newspapers, period- 
icals, and books. 

Bold face.=A style of type 
resembling Roman, with 
the thicker strokes of the 



TECHNICAL TERMS 



197 



letter much heavier. It is 
sometimes called " Full 
Face." 

Booklet. =:A small book or 
pamphlet; a term usually 
applied to a pamphlet 
smaller than a catalogue. 

Book paper.=A general term 
applying to the size and 
quality of the paper used 
for a book, the standard 
size being 25x38 inches. A 
half-sheet is 25x19 inches. 
Book paper is, however, 
made to order in any size 
required. 

Border. =Plain or ornamental 
lines set around printed 
matter. 

Bourgeois. = 9 Point type. 
See chapter " About Type." 

Brass rules.=rStrips of brass 
of a type height, printing 
single or double lines or 
ornamental designs. 

Breviep.=8 Point type. See 
chapter " About Type." 

Canon. =44 Point type. See 
chapter " About Type." 

Caps. = Capital letters. 

Caption. =The title of an il- 
lustration, appearing either 
below or above it. 

Case. =: The boxes holding 
type. 

Chase. =The metallic frame 
holding type while being 
printed, electrotyped, or 
stereotyped. 

Circulation. =The number of 
copies of a newspaper or 
periodical actually sold or 
distributed. 

Clarendon. =A type face re- 
sembling ordinary Roman 
and rounder than Antique- 
See chapter " About Type." 

Clean proof.=Proofs needing 
few corrections'. 

Close matter. = Type set close 
together, with few para- 
graphs, and with neither 
break lines nor leads. 

Coated papep.=A paper with 
a very hard and smooth 
finish, especially adapted 
to the printing of half- 
tone engravings. 

Composing stick.=The metal 



contrivance in which tjTpe 
is set. 
Composition or composing. = 

The setting of type in 
words and arranging them 
into lines. 

Copy. = The printer's term 
for manuscripts. 

Cuts.=:The printer's term for 
engravings and illustra- 
tions. 

d.= Daily. 

Dash.=A line, plain or orna- 
mental, between type mat- 
ter. 

Dead matter. = Set-up type 
not to be used, but to be 
distributed. 

Descending letters. ■= Lines 
running downwards, as p, 
q, i, etc. 

D i spi ay. = Words or lines' set 
in large type or separated 
from surrounding matter 
by spaces or rules. 

Distributing. =:Returning type 
which has been set to its 
proper place in the case. 

Double Great Primer. = 36 
Point type. See chapter 
" About Type." 

Double-leaded. =Matter with 
two leads between the 
lines. 

Double Paragon. = 40 Point 
type. See chapter " About 
Type." 

Double Small Pica. =22 Point 
type. See chapter " About 
Type." 

Dummy. = A general layout 
of any job of printing (cat- 
alogue or book), used to 
give an idea as to how the 
work will look when fin- 
ished. 

Duodecimo. =Half a sheet of 
book paper (19x25 inches), 
folded into 12 leaves, mak- 
ing 24 pages. 18mo., 18 
leaves or 36 pages, 24mo., 
24 leaves or 48 pages. 

e.d.= Every day. 

e.i.=Every issue. 

Electrotype. = A copper-cov- 
ered duplicate of type or 
other matter of type height 
with a wooden or metallic 
base. 



198 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 



Em.=The square of a type 
body, called " em " be- 
cause the body of an " m " 
in Roman type is gen- 
erally square. See chap- 
ter " About Type." 

e.m.= Every month. 

En.=Half of an em. 

English, = 14 Point type. See 
chapter " About Type." 

e.o.d.=E]very other day. 

e.o.i.=:Every other issue. 

e.o.m.rrEvery other month. 

e.o.w.=Every other week. 

Even page. =: The pages of a 
book which have the even 
numbers, 2, 4, 6, 8, etc. 

e.w.=Every week. 

Fancy letters. = Type faces 
that are not plain and sim- 
ple in style. 

Fat matter, = Leaded or open 
matter. 

f.f.rzFull Face. 

Folio. =Half a sheet of book 
paper, 19x25 inches, folded 
into two leaves or four 
pages. Is also applied to 
the running numbers of 
pages in a book. 

Folioing.=:Paging a book. 

Follow copy. = When written 
on copy means that the 
copy must be followed ex- 
actly or as nearly as pos- 
sible, in every respect, 

Footnote.rrMatter at the bot- 
tom of the page usually set 
in small type and some- 
times preceded by a ref- 
erence mark corresponding 
to a similar one in the body 
of the text. 

Form.=A page or series of 
pages locked up in the 
chase, ready for the press 
or stereotyper or electro- 
typer. 

Galley. =A long tray for the 
holding of live or dead 
type matter, known as 
" live galley " and " dead 
galley." 

Galley proofs, = First proofs; 
proofs of type which have 
not been made up into 
pages or arranged in more 
than one column. 

Full face. = Roman type with 



heavy lines ; sometimes 
called Bold Face. 

Great Primer.=:18 Point type. 
See chapter " About Type." 

Gothic. =: A perfectly plain 
type face without shading 
and with all or most of the 
lines of the same thickness. 
Gothic is known as Gothic, 
Gothic Condensed, Gothic 
Extended, and Lining 
Gothic, etc., the latter hav- 
ing a very thin face. 
Some faces of Gothic are 
known by arbitrary names. 
See chapter " About Type." 

Half sheet.=A half sheet of 
standard book paper is 
19x25 inches. 

Half-tones. = Engravings. See 
chapter " The Art Depart- 
ment." 

Imposing. == Arranging set 
type for the press. It 
should not be confused 
with " composing," which 
refers to the setting of 
type. 

Imprint. =The publisher's or 
printer's name appended to 
a book or job. 

Indention, = The space to the 
left at the beginning of a 
paragraph. 

Inset or Insert. = Page or 
pages inserted between the 
regular folded pages of a 
book or newspaper. 

Job printing. =A term applied 
to every class of commer- 
cial printing except that of 
newspapers, catalogues, and 
books. 

Justifying. = Making both 
ends of the type lines even 
by proper spacing. 

l.c,=Lower case. 

Leaded matter. = Type with 
leads between the lines. 

Leaders. = Dots or hyphens 
placed at intervals; usually 
used in indexes. 

Leads. = Strips of metal of 
various thicknesses for 
spacing between type lines. 
The thickness is generally 
reckoned on a Pica basis 
as 6-to-Pica, etc. Six 6- 
to-Pica leads have the 



TECHNICAL TERMS 



199 



width of one Pica line, and 
36 will make an inch. 
Thicker leads are usually- 
called slugs. 

Lean matter.=Type set close 
together and solid. 

Lean type.=Type with a very 
thin face. 

Letter press. ^Printing from 
movable type or electro- 
types; a term used to dis- 
tinguish regular printing 
from steel and copper en- 
graving and lithography. 

Live copy.=Manuscript ready 
to be set. 

Long Primer,=10 Point type. 
See chapter " About Type." 

Lower case. = Small letters. 

m.=: Monthly. 

Matrix.=The mold of a type 
or of anything else to be 
cast. 

Matter. = Type which has 
been set is designated as 
" live matter," " standing 
matter," or " dead mat- 
ter"; also refers to manu- 
scripts in general. 

Minion. =7 Point type. See 
chapter "About Type." 

Modern Roman. =A style of 
Roman face heavier than 
that of Old Style Roman. 
See chapter ** About Type." 

M s. =:Manuscript. 

Nonpareil. =6 Point type. See 
chapter " About Type." 

n.r.=Next to reading matter. 

Octavo. =Haif a sheet of 
book paper folded into 8 
leaves or 16 pages. 

Odd pages. =The pages of a 
book or newspaper given 
the odd numbers, 3, 5, 7, 
etc. 

Old Style Roman. =A face of 
type generally rounder and 
more open than modern 
Roman. 

Open matter. = Type matter 
with many paragraphs and 
leaded. 

Paragon. =20 Point type. See 
chapter " About Type." 

" Patent insides " or " out- 
sides." =See chapter about 
" Cooperative Newspapers." 



Photo-engravings. = See chap- 
ter " The Art Department." 

Pi.=:Mixed-up type. 

Pica. = 12 Point type. See 
chapter " About Type." 

Plates. = Electrotypes or 
stereotypes; also refers to 
engravings. 

Point system. = The new 
method of measuring type, 
based on 72 points to an 
inch. The point system 
takes' the place of the old 
style names like Brevier, 
Pica, etc. 

Presswork.=:Printing upon a 
printing press. 

q.= Quarterly. 

Quad or Quadrat. =:A space 
placed between words set 
in type. 

Quarto. =:A half sheet of book 
paper folded into 4 leaves 
or 8 pages. 

Reading matter. = That part 
of the manuscript or type 
matter containing the sub- 
stance of the work and 
distinct from headlines and 
display matter. 

Reprint or reprint copy.= 
Matter already set and 
printed. 

Revised or revised proof.=: 
Proofs after corrections 
have been made upon 
them. 

Roman type. = The ordinary 
type face used for reading 
matter. 

Run in.=:A term used when 
it is desirable to have mat- 
ter which has been para- 
graphed set without para- 
graphs. 

Running head.=The name of 
the title or of a book or 
chapter placed at the top 
of each page. 

Side heads. =Words in neav- 
ier or larger type than the 
body matter, set at the left 
of the page or column. 

Signature. =:A letter or figure 
placed on each of the sheets 
of a book or pamphlet, as 
a guide in arranging or 
folding them; also a print- 
ed sheet so marked. 



SOO THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 



Slug.rrA thick lead. 

s.m. = Semimonthly. 

Small caps (s.c.).:=Small cap- 
ital letters. 

Small Pica (11 Point type.).= 
See chapter " About Type." 

Solid. =:Unleaded type. 

Spaces. = Pieces of lead, but 
not of type height, and 
not as wide as an " n," 
placed between words. 

Standing matter. = Set up 
type to be printed from or 
which has been printed 
from and is held to be 
printed from again. 

Stereotypes. = Duplicates of 
type matter cast into a 
solid body of lead. 

Stet. = Signifies, when writ- 
ten opposite an erroneous 
correction, that no atten- 
tion is to be paid to such 
correction. 

Stick, rr Composing stick in 
which type is set, or equal 
measure of type. 

s. w. = Semi weekly . 

Table work.==The setting of 
figures and tables of mat- 
ter. 

Size and calender. = Refers to 
the finish of ordinary book 



paper and to a quality be- 
tween news paper and 
coated paper. 

S. & C. = Size and calender. 

t.c.=Top of column. 

t.f.=Till forbidden. 

Token. =500 sheets printed on 
one side, or 250 sheets 
printed on both sides. 
Press work is usually 
charged by the token. 

tr. = Transpose. 

Upper case. — 'Capital letters. 

w="Weekly. 

Wrong font, r: The wrong 
style or face of letter. 

w.f.= Wrong font. 

2 t.a.w., 3 t.a.w., etc.=:Mean- 
ing two times a week, or 
three times a week, etc. 

A single line drawn beneath 
words signifies that they 
are to be set in italics; 
two lines, for small cap- 
itals; and three lines for 
capitals. 

O. — A circle drawn around 
numerals and figures, in 
some offices, signifies that 
the figures are to be speiled 
out in letters. 



CHAPTER XLIII 

Proof-Reading 

ALL newspapers, except those published in 
the small towns, employ one or more proof- 
readers, each of whom has an assistant who is 
known as a copy-holder. 

The proof-reader, and his copy-holder, alter- 
nate the reading of the proof and the manuscript, 
but the proof-reader alone makes the corrections. 

Many proof-readers have enjoyed liberal edu- 
cations, and probably half of the most responsible 
ones are college graduates. A collegiate educa- 
tion, however, is not essential, provided one has a 
large command of English and is thoroughly pro- 
ficient in punctuation, spelling, and construction. 

The first-class proof-reader, however, is more 
than a mere English scholar. He possesses that 
peculiar ability of locating errors of fact, as well 
as those of spelling and punctuation. 

It has been said that there does not exist a book, 

magazine, or newspaper free from error. A 
^01 



S02 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

friend of mine, one of the editors of a great dic- 
tionary, told me that this unabridged volume con- 
tained as many errors as there were pages, — 
mistakes in spelling, punctuation, definition, or 
construction. 

The proof-reader's duty, then, is not only to 
correct the errors in spelling, punctuation, and 
grammar, but he should be able to locate incon- 
sistencies and misstatements, which he does not 
correct but queries, writing a question mark In 
the margin opposite them. 

EflScient proof-readers are paid from fifteen to 
eighteen dollars a week, a few receiving higher 
salaries if they do technical or difficult work. 

Every newspaper man and writer should under- 
stand the fundamentals of proof-reading, that he 
may be able properly to mark his proofs, although 
many newspaper writers seldom see proofs of their 
work. 

I present practically all of the proof marks or 
signs used in newspaper and printing offices. 
These vary slightly in different offices, but any 
printer or compositor will readily understand the 
meaning of the characters given here. 



PROOF-READING 203 

r win not go. CcJL^ I WILL not go; 

WiUiam/lack. ^ William Black. 

B2S^n,Mass. S. Cc^ Boston. Mass. 

Boston Tribune. ^9^<^ Boston TnSune. 

Chicago Express . f^ cTWl. Chicago Express. 

Oo injo the hal!. ^ Go into the hall. 

Trai/s stop here. "♦• Trains stop here. 

^Hundreds of dogs^housands of cats. iL Hundreds of dogs. 

^ Thousands of cats. 



S04 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 

A Great Fair. X » C A great fair. 



f f 

C" He called himhonorablel" \y \^ ** He called him * honorable M » 



C^%AA^i2jt, ^><A.^^dL^f,^) 



Timothy Titcomb J. G. Holland. ^ i 3 Timothy Titcomb (J. Q. Holland) 



Wendell Ph\mps/ Orations. J / Wendell Phillips : Orations. 



i I Wendell 



Stones grovyanimals live. J/ ^ Stones grow; animals live; 






S A^^%w «• Cat^h/v^ J 



Fie, my lord/a soldier? // Fie, my lord! a soldier^ 

Twas CaeUr. C^, 'Twas Cffisar^) 



PROOF-READING 205 

1 tol/you so. ^\ . I told you sa 

vTcll me youyp^fwiame. ^^Q^ Tell me your name^ 

( t<4j6 tf^ct.) 

•Go to bed. Go to your bed> 

.Whereishe? sW" Where is hef 

A ^^ , 

ICome withTnel quickly. JcgAA nllfcr Come with me quicklyi» 

00/00/00. t I I Go — Go —Gov 

gPish/ Fish/ Fish. \ X __ I Fish Fish Fi8h3 



206 THE HANDBOOK OF JOURNALISM 



,Are 



|A:e%^:::e,n' ^"^ ^ AreyougCng. Areyouwell? 

50 pins, >^ ^ 

< 25 needles. ^ f^ c^..^^ %aa 50 pins, 25 needles, 75 thimbles. 
C75 thimoles. 

Go/d morning ! ^O f Good morning r 

|don't4»«w*.togo, I iXCt 1 don't want to goT 

ForQTi^and ^on^ -t ^ For you and me.l 

A selection fsufficient^ for both of us. A sufficient selection for both of ttSi) 

East^nd^West. | ^ East and West7> 

Aschool for^a^S)men. -^^ A practical school for men.:; 



PROOF-READING 207 

I love you/ Do you love me/ w / P i \ love you. Do you love me ? 

Some pens paper and ink. ^ I « / Some pens, paper, and ink^ 

-^ A ' / 

Druggists sundries. \/ Druggists* sundries.; 



HalPs R<mieo.^ \f/ w Hall's " Romeo.** 



>v A V V 



A well wisher. «» / A well-wisher< 



will go. X.^A^'^iA I will go. 

will go. • «t ^^ ^*'^ S<^* 

hey will go. f S+VA^^A* >ftiA* They will go. 



Take Notice. S'^^t^'^^ (^TTake Notice. 




INDEX 



About type, 158 

Advertising department of 
a newspaper, 179 

Advice, 194 

Art department, 105 

Book reviewer, 44- 

Business department of a 
newspaper, 179 

By way of introduction, 1 

Caption writer, 62 

City editor, 64 

Cooperative newspapers, 124 

Copy, 151 

Country newspaper oppor- 
tunities, 139 

Desk editor, 34 

Dramatic editor, 38 

Editorial writers, 29 

Editor-in-chief, 23 

Financial editor, 49 

Head or caption writer, 62 

Journalism, schools of, 128 

Linotype, 172 

Literary editor, 36 

Makers of newspapers, 11 

Managing editor, 27 

Manuscript or copy, 151 

Monotype, 172 



Musical editor, 42 

News and telegraph editor, 

32 
News-distributing companies 

and associations, 110 
Newspaper terms, 196 
Newspaper writer, what 

makes the, 18 
Newspapers and periodicals, 

4 
Newspapers, makers of, 11 
Night editor, 57 
Night work, 108 
No change in sight, 188 
Nose for news, 84 
Patent-insides or cooperative 

newspapers, 124 
Periodicals, 4 
Plate matter, 114 
Political editor, 52 
Printing press, 176 
Proof-reading, 201 
Publishing or business de- 
partment of a newspaper, 

179 
Reference editor, 54 
Reporters, 69 
Schools of journalism, 128 



210 



INDEX 



Small daily newspapers, 132 

Space writer, 97 

Special articles, writers of, 

101 
Sporting editor, 59 
Syndicate, 119 
Taking of advice, 194 
Technical or newspaper 

terms, 196 



Telegraph editor, 32 
Type, 158 

Typesetting machines, 172 
Typewritten copy, 156 
What makes the newspaper 

writer, 18 
Writers of special articles, 

101 



JUL 19 1913 



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